tombstone

[toom-stohn]

See more synonyms for tombstone on Thesaurus.com

noun

a stone marker, usually inscribed, on a tomb or grave.

Origin of tombstone

First recorded in 1555–65; tomb + stone

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for tombstone

Contemporary Examples

“What I would really like to put on my tombstone is that I was part of my time,” he says.
The Stacks: The Eyes of Winter: Paul Newman at 70
Peter Richmond
October 11, 2014
“The NTC pretends to govern, but it doesn't have any real power in the interior,” Tombstone tells him.
This Sexy Thriller Is Just the Document the Benghazi Commission Needs
Christopher Dickey
September 15, 2014
The problem gets occasional publicity when a rock star steps in and buys a tombstone for a blues great.
Blues Musicians in Unmarked Graves Are Finally Getting Some Respect
Malcolm Jones
January 12, 2014
Or you could have a tombstone that reads “Here does not lie Ann Patchett.”
Ann Patchett: How I Write
Noah Charney
October 30, 2013
At a recent press conference, Tzipi Livni nailed a quote rich enough to perhaps one day be emblazoned on her tombstone.
Introducing Tzipi Livni to the Occupation
Avner Gvaryahu
October 1, 2013

Historical Examples

Her blessing was better than a holy verse upon the tombstone.
The White Old Maid (From "Twice Told Tales")
Nathaniel Hawthorne
The lantern, set on a tombstone beside them, blinked in a snowy gust.
Quaint Courtships
Various
They rose from the tombstone, and were soon hidden in the shadow of a pile of planks.
The Fortune of the Rougons
Emile Zola
For a long time the tombstone particularly engaged their attention.
The Fortune of the Rougons
Emile Zola
"You'll see, this tombstone will bring us misfortune," she added.
The Fortune of the Rougons
Emile Zola

British Dictionary definitions for tombstone

tombstone

noun

another word for gravestone

Tombstone

noun

a town in the US, in Arizona: scene of the gunfight at the OK Corral in 1881. Pop: 1547 (2003 est)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for tombstone

n.

1560s, originally the flat stone atop a grave (or the lid of a stone coffin); from tomb + stone (n.). Meaning "gravestone, headstone" is attested from 1711. The city in Arizona, U.S., said to have been named by prospector Ed Schieffelin, who found silver there in 1877 after being told all he would find there was his tombstone.

tombstone

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}tombstone

Examples from the Web for tombstone

Contemporary Examples

“What I would really like to put on my tombstone is that I was part of my time,” he says.

“The NTC pretends to govern, but it doesn't have any real power in the interior,” Tombstone tells him.

The problem gets occasional publicity when a rock star steps in and buys a tombstone for a blues great.

Or you could have a tombstone that reads “Here does not lie Ann Patchett.”

At a recent press conference, Tzipi Livni nailed a quote rich enough to perhaps one day be emblazoned on her tombstone.

Historical Examples

Her blessing was better than a holy verse upon the tombstone.

The lantern, set on a tombstone beside them, blinked in a snowy gust.

They rose from the tombstone, and were soon hidden in the shadow of a pile of planks.

For a long time the tombstone particularly engaged their attention.

"You'll see, this tombstone will bring us misfortune," she added.

tombstone

Tombstone

Word Origin and History for tombstone

n.

Origin of tombstone