Limestone Definition, Examples & Key Facts

Meaning 1：calcium carbonate rock (limestone)

limestone 🔊

/ˈlaɪm.stəʊn/

A hard type of rock that is often gray or white, formed over time from shells and other materials. It's commonly used for building and making cement.

Limestone rock close-up showing grayish-white layers and rough sedimentary texture in natural light.

calcium carbonate rock 🔊

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/ˈkælsiəm ˈkɑːrbənət rɒk/

A common sedimentary rock composed mainly of the mineral calcite (calcium carbonate), often formed from the accumulation of shells, coral, and other organic debris in marine environments. It is typically gray or white and is a key material in construction and industry.

📁 Category：Buildings & Places 🔖 Level：Beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

Compound word: 'lime' (from Old English 'lim', meaning a sticky substance) + 'stone'.

💡 Mnemonic

LIME + STONE = a STONE that yields LIME (calcium oxide) when heated. Think of it as the 'lime-making rock'.

📖 Example

The ancient temple's walls are made of limestone, which has lasted for hundreds of years without crumbling. 🔊 The structure of the old temple is constructed from limestone, demonstrating its remarkable durability over centuries.

🔗 Collocations

limestone quarry – a place where limestone is excavated from the ground

limestone cave – a natural underground cavity formed in limestone bedrock by water erosion

limestone formation – a distinct layer or body of limestone rock

🔄 Synonyms

chalk (n.) – A soft, white, porous form of limestone composed of microscopic shells.

marble (n.) – A metamorphic rock that forms when limestone is subjected to intense heat and pressure.

travertine (n.) – A form of limestone deposited by mineral springs, often used as building material.

🚫 Antonyms

igneous rock (n.) – Rock formed from the cooling and solidification of magma or lava, as opposed to sedimentary rock like limestone.

🌱 Derivatives

limy (adj.) – Containing or resembling lime; chalky.

📖 Cultural Story

The term comes from Old English 'lim' (meaning birdlime or mortar) and 'stan' (stone). It refers to stone that yields lime when burned. Limestone's cultural significance is immense, forming iconic structures like the Great Pyramid of Giza and many Gothic cathedrals due to its workability and durability.