tombstone
UK: ˈtuːmstəʊn | US: ˈtuːmstoʊn
n. a stone marker placed over a grave, typically inscribed with the deceased's name and dates
n. (figuratively) a symbol of death or finality
tombstone = tomb<burial chamber> + stone<rock>
- tomb: From Old French tombe (grave), derived from Late Latin tumba (burial mound), ultimately from Greek tymbos (hillock, grave).
- stone: From Old English stān (rock, mineral), of Germanic origin.
Etymology Origin:
The word tombstone emerged in Middle English (14th century) as a compound of tomb and stone, reflecting the practical function of marking graves with durable stone slabs. The pairing logically combines the concept of burial (tomb) with the material (stone), emphasizing permanence and memorialization.
The weathered tombstone bore the name of a soldier from the 1800s.
She placed flowers on her grandmother's tombstone every spring.
The detective found a clue carved into the tombstone.
In the horror movie, the tombstone glowed eerily at midnight.
His failed business became the tombstone of his entrepreneurial dreams.