Stone Meaning
Stone Definition & Usage
A hard, solid, naturally occurring substance that forms the earth's crust, typically composed of minerals.
Examples
- "The mountain was dotted with jagged stones and large boulders."
- "I picked up a smooth stone from the beach to skip across the water."
- "The stone walls of the castle had been standing for centuries."
- "He stumbled over a stone while hiking up the rocky path."
- "The ancient statues were carved from a single block of stone."
A small, solid object, often used metaphorically to refer to something immovable or burdensome.
Examples
- "She felt like a stone in her stomach after the tough conversation."
- "Every time he tried to change her mind, he was met with a stone wall of resistance."
- "His heart was a stone, and he couldn't bring himself to cry."
- "The weight of the decision felt like a stone hanging over him."
- "It’s hard to get through to her, it’s like talking to a stone."
To throw or strike with stones.
Examples
- "They stoned the statues, damaging the delicate carvings."
- "The kids were stoning the fence, trying to knock it down."
- "The protesters began to stone the police cars in anger."
- "He was stoned by the mob as he tried to flee the city."
- "She stoned the path, hoping to make it smoother for her walk."
Cultural Context
The use of stones has been central to human history, from early tools made of flint to the monumental structures such as the pyramids, built using enormous stones. In many cultures, stones have symbolic meanings, representing stability, permanence, or even burden.
The Stoning of the Wall
Story
The Stoning of the Wall
In a quiet village, nestled beneath the shadow of towering cliffs, there stood an old stone wall that divided the land into two parts. The villagers often told stories of how the wall had been built centuries ago, using nothing but large stones, carved and placed by the hands of those long passed. It was said that the stones were enchanted, holding the secrets of the past within their cold, unyielding surfaces. One day, a young man named Oliver, struggling with the weight of his life’s decisions, wandered towards the wall. The pressure of his work, his broken heart, and the failure of his dreams had left him feeling as cold and unmovable as the stones themselves. His mind was a stone, locked in place, unable to move forward. ‘What should I do?’ he asked, his voice barely rising above a whisper. He stared at the stones, each one stacked upon the other, immovable and silent. ‘I am nothing but a stone.’ As Oliver touched the wall, he could feel its rough surface beneath his fingers. It reminded him of his own heart—hardened over time, unable to let anyone in. His thoughts were interrupted by a sound—a soft tap at first, then a louder thud. He turned, only to see the village children, laughing and throwing stones at the wall. Their aim was not to harm but to test the strength of the ancient barrier. The stones bounced harmlessly off, just as their laughter bounced off the heavy air surrounding Oliver’s own heart. The children looked at him, noticing his distant expression. ‘Come, join us!’ they urged, laughing together. Oliver hesitated but finally joined them, picking up a stone. He threw it, and it clinked against the wall, making a sound he hadn’t heard in years: a light, carefree noise. The children cheered, but for Oliver, it felt like the first time in a long while that he had allowed himself to feel something other than cold, hard indifference. As the sun began to set, the wall glowed in the fading light, and Oliver realized that he was no longer just a stone. He had moved, if only slightly. The wall might still be unyielding, but his heart was no longer as cold as it once was. Sometimes, it only takes a small action to make a stone move, he thought. And as they all walked away, Oliver’s last throw echoed in the distance. The stone had found its place in the wall, but more importantly, so had he.
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