sand
UK: sænd | US: sænd
n. loose granular material consisting of tiny rock or mineral particles, found on beaches, deserts, etc.
vt. to sprinkle or cover with sand (e.g., to sand a road for traction).
The word "sand" traces back to Old English sand, derived from Proto-Germanic sandam, which likely originated from Proto-Indo-European bʰes- (to rub, grind). This reflects the abrasive nature of sand as finely ground rock. The word has remained remarkably stable in form and meaning across Germanic languages (e.g., German Sand, Dutch zand), emphasizing its primal connection to natural landscapes.
Children built castles with wet sand at the beach.
The desert stretched endlessly, a sea of golden sand.
Workers sanded the wooden floor before varnishing it.
The hourglass measured time as sand trickled downward.
Sand blew into our shoes during the windy hike.