Definition

1. Noun:
   • A sedimentary rock composed of sand-sized grains: Sandstone is a type of rock formed from sand that has been compacted and cemented together over long periods. The cementing material can be clay, calcite, silica (quartz), or iron oxides.

Usage

• Sandstone is primarily used as a noun to refer to the rock itself. It is a common term in geology, construction, and archaeology.
• It is often described by its color (e.g., red sandstone, yellow sandstone) or the primary cementing mineral (e.g., quartz sandstone).

Examples

• Noun:
  • The canyon walls are made of beautiful red sandstone.
  • Quartz sandstone is very resistant to weathering.
  • Many historic buildings were constructed from local sandstone.

Advanced Usage

• "Sandstone formation": A distinct layer or body of sandstone rock.
  • The famous arches are part of a massive sandstone formation.
• "Sandstone quarry": A place where sandstone is extracted from the earth.
  • The old sandstone quarry is now a lake.

Variants and Related Words

• Arenite (n): A general term for clastic sedimentary rocks with sand-sized particles, often used synonymously with sandstone in technical contexts.
• Gritstone (n): A type of sandstone, especially a coarse-grained one.
• Sandstoned (adj): This form is not standard. The typical adjective is "sandstone" used attributively (e.g., a sandstone block).

Synonyms

• Sedimentary rock: The broader category of rock formed by the accumulation of sediments, which includes sandstone.
• Arenaceous rock: A technical synonym for sandstone or sand-like rock.

Related Phrases

• To be built of sandstone: Describes construction material.
  • The medieval cathedral was built of sandstone.

Related Idioms

• There are no common idioms specifically featuring the word sandstone. It is a technical term.

Noun

1. a sedimentary rock consisting of sand consolidated with some cement (clay or quartz etc.)