noun
cairn
keh-uhn
Cairn (noun) means a pile of stones stacked up as a marker, memorial, or landmark. Example: “Hikers built a cairn at the summit to mark the trail.”
noun
1
A pile of stones stacked up as a marker, memorial, or landmark.
"Hikers built a cairn at the summit to mark the trail."
"The ancient cairn was believed to mark a burial site."
How to use cairn
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA human-made heap of stones, often used to mark a trail, summit, or grave.
Common pairings
stone cairn
build a cairn
stack a cairn
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Word forms
- Plural
- cairns
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Hikers built a _____ at the summit to mark the trail.
Etymology
From Scottish Gaelic càrn, ultimately from a Celtic root meaning "horn" — the same distant root behind the English word "horn."
Synonyms
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cairn terrier
Rhymes for cairn
See all rhymes for cairn →Frequently asked questions
What does “cairn” mean?
The word “cairn” means a pile of stones stacked up as a marker, memorial, or landmark. In plain terms, a human-made heap of stones, often used to mark a trail, summit, or grave.
How do you pronounce “cairn”?
“Cairn” is pronounced keh-uhn (/kɛ(ə)ɹn/ in IPA).
How do you use “cairn” in a sentence?
Here is “cairn” used in a sentence: “Hikers built a cairn at the summit to mark the trail.”
What part of speech is “cairn”?
“Cairn” is a noun.
Where does the word “cairn” come from?
The word “cairn” comes from Scottish Gaelic. From Scottish Gaelic càrn, ultimately from a Celtic root meaning "horn" — the same distant root behind the English word "horn.".
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