limestone

American  

[lahym-stohn] / ˈlaɪmˌstoʊn /

noun

1. a sedimentary rock consisting predominantly of calcium carbonate, varieties of which are formed from the skeletons of marine microorganisms and coral: used as a building stone and in the manufacture of lime.

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limestone British  

/ ˈlaɪmˌstəʊn /

noun

1. a sedimentary rock consisting mainly of calcium carbonate, deposited as the calcareous remains of marine animals or chemically precipitated from the sea: used as a building stone and in the manufacture of cement, lime, etc

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limestone Scientific  

/ līm′stōn′ /

1. A sedimentary rock consisting primarily of calcium carbonate, often in the form of the minerals calcite or aragonite, and sometimes with magnesium carbonate in the form of dolomite. Minor amounts of silica, feldspar, pyrite, and clay may also be present. Limestone can occur in many colors but is usually white, gray, or black. It forms either through the accumulation and compaction of fossil shells or other calcium-carbonate based marine organisms, such as coral, or through the chemical precipitation of calcium carbonate out of sea water.

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limestone Cultural  

1. Sedimentary rock formed primarily of calcium carbonate, often the skeletons of small marine organisms.

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Etymology

Origin of limestone

First recorded in 1515–25; lime ² + stone

Compare meaning

How does limestone compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• limestone vs. travertine

Example Sentences

We had chosen Malhamdale because its limestone topography is considered the most stunning of the Dales.

From Los Angeles Times • May 14, 2026

The pale limestone cliffs loomed, an essential feature of the Texas Hill Country.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 18, 2026

Designed to exude a feeling of “understated luxury,” the well-appointed abode has been designed with only the most high-caliber materials, starting with its limestone facade, which blends beautifully with the greenery that surrounds it.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 10, 2026

"The area we were collecting in is karst, so it's made of sharp, edgy limestone, and it's lost all of its natural soils," Riegler said.

From Science Daily • Apr. 3, 2026

For hundreds of years, much of Paris was built with limestone mined from nearby quarries to the south.

From "City Spies" by James Ponti