Definition

1. Noun:
   • A stone marker for a grave: A "gravestone" is a stone, typically made of granite, marble, or slate, that is placed at the head of a grave to identify the deceased and often includes inscriptions such as the name, dates of birth and death, and sometimes an epitaph.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The old gravestone was weathered and covered in moss.
  • They placed fresh flowers by the gravestone every Sunday.
  • The inscription on the gravestone was difficult to read.

Advanced Usage

• "To be as silent as a gravestone": To be extremely quiet or uncommunicative.
  • After the argument, he was as silent as a gravestone.

Variants and Related Words

• Headstone (n): A synonym for "gravestone," specifically a stone set at the head of a grave.
• Tombstone (n): Another common synonym for "gravestone."
• Footstone (n): A smaller stone marker placed at the foot of a grave, often as a pair with a headstone.
• Grave marker (n): A more general term for any object, stone or otherwise, used to mark a grave.

Synonyms

• Headstone: A stone marker at the head of a grave.
• Tombstone: A stone marking a tomb or grave.
• Monument: A structure, which may be a stone, erected in memory of a person or event.

Related Phrases

• To turn in one's grave: An idiom meaning a deceased person would be very upset or shocked if they knew about a current situation (often used with a specific person's name, e.g., "Shakespeare is turning in his grave").
  • Such a poor performance of his symphony would have the composer turning in his grave.

Noun

1. a stone that is used to mark a grave