sand
sand
Sand (noun) means Loose grains of rock, finer than gravel but coarser than silt, found on beaches and in deserts. Example: “The children built a castle out of wet sand near the shoreline.”
noun
1
Loose grains of rock, finer than gravel but coarser than silt, found on beaches and in deserts.
"The children built a castle out of wet sand near the shoreline."
"After the walk, I emptied sand out of both my shoes."
"Strong winds blew the sand across the road in the desert."
2
A pale beige colour resembling that of typical sand.
"She painted the bedroom walls a soft sand colour."
"The sofa comes in grey, navy or sand, and we chose the lightest."
"He wore a sand jacket that matched the dry grass perfectly."
3
Personal courage or grit.
"It took real sand to stand up to the whole room like that."
"The young goalkeeper showed plenty of sand when he saved the last penalty."
"You need a lot of sand to speak honestly to your boss."
verb
1
To smooth or clean a surface by rubbing it with sandpaper or an abrasive.
"He sanded the tabletop before applying the varnish."
"Please sand the rough edges of the shelf so nobody gets a splinter."
"I spent the weekend sanding the old door before painting it."
How to use sand
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishFine loose grains of rock found on beaches and deserts — or, as a verb, to smooth wood with an abrasive.
Common pairings
grain of sand
sand dune
sand a surface down
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Word forms
- Plural
- sands
- Third person singular
- sands
- Past tense
- sanded
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The children built a castle out of wet _____ near the shoreline.
Etymology
From Old English sand, from an ancient Germanic root meaning the same, related to German Sand and Dutch zand.
Related words
Rhymes for sand
See all rhymes for sand →Frequently asked questions
What does “sand” mean?
The word “sand” means loose grains of rock, finer than gravel but coarser than silt, found on beaches and in deserts. In plain terms, fine loose grains of rock found on beaches and deserts — or, as a verb, to smooth wood with an abrasive.
How do you pronounce “sand”?
“Sand” is pronounced sand (/sænd/ in IPA).
How do you use “sand” in a sentence?
Here is “sand” used in a sentence: “The children built a castle out of wet sand near the shoreline.”
What part of speech is “sand”?
Depending on how it is used, “sand” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “sand” come from?
The word “sand” comes from Old English. From Old English sand, from an ancient Germanic root meaning the same, related to German Sand and Dutch zand.
Is “sand” a common word?
“Sand” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “sand” have?
“Sand” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: loose grains of rock, finer than gravel but coarser than silt, found on beaches and in deserts.
What is the difference between sand and silt?
The difference is grain size. Sand is made of loose mineral grains you can see and feel individually, coarser than silt but finer than gravel. Silt is finer still — smooth and floury to the touch, with particles too small to distinguish by eye. When wet, silt feels slippery, whereas sand stays gritty.
What is sand made of?
Most sand is tiny fragments of rock and mineral worn down over long periods by water and weather. The commonest ingredient is quartz, or silica, because it resists erosion. Some sand comes from other sources too — tropical white sand is often ground-up coral and shell, and black sand can be volcanic rock.
What are the types of sand?
Sand is grouped in several ways. By source there is beach sand, river sand, and desert sand; by make-up there is silica or quartz sand, coral sand, and volcanic black sand. Builders also sort sand by grain size and shape, since sharp, coarse grains and smooth, fine ones suit different jobs.
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