stonework
Americannoun
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any construction, as walls or the like, of stone; stone masonry.
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the techniques, processes, work, or art of dressing, setting, or designing in stone.
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(usually used with a singular verb) Usually stoneworks. a place where stone is dressed, as for building.
noun
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any structure or part of a building made of stone
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the process of dressing or setting stones
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of stonework
before 1000; Middle English stoonwerk, Old English stānweorc. See stone, work
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"Its dramatic five-storey Great Tower, remarkable stonework and exceptional period detailing place it among the country's most important historic houses."
From BBC • Feb. 27, 2026
The Hughes - Helen, 33, and Llyr, 36 - had been planning a home extension when heavy rainfall in February 2023 flooded exposed foundations, sending water through the stonework and under the floors.
From BBC • Dec. 8, 2025
The lease shows he does have to keep paying for the upkeep of the house, ensuring the exterior stonework is in good condition every five years and painting the interior every seven years.
From BBC • Oct. 21, 2025
“Three days ago, while admiring the stonework, I happened to notice a huge gash in the limestone that extended more than 25 yards long. It was deep and nasty!” he wrote.
From Salon • Aug. 31, 2025
He let his eyes drift toward the Tower—its black, devilishly complicated stonework mimicking the whorls of galaxies and the trajectories of stars; its small, round windows winking outward like eyes.
From "The Girl Who Drank the Moon" by Kelly Barnhill
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
