noun
touchstone
TUHCHS-tohn
Touchstone (noun) means a dark stone once used to test the purity of gold or silver by rubbing the metal on it and examining the streak left behind. Example: “Jewelers once relied on a touchstone to check the purity of gold.”
noun
1
A dark stone once used to test the purity of gold or silver by rubbing the metal on it and examining the streak left behind.
"Jewelers once relied on a touchstone to check the purity of gold."
2
A standard or test used to judge the quality or genuineness of something.
"Honesty became the touchstone by which she judged all her friendships."
"The novel is often used as a touchstone for great American fiction."
How to use touchstone
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething used as a standard to judge or measure the quality of other things.
Common pairings
a touchstone for
serve as a touchstone
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like touchstone.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- touchstones
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Jewelers once relied on a _____ to check the purity of gold.
Etymology
A compound of touch and stone, from the literal stone used to test metals.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for touchstone
See all rhymes for touchstone →Frequently asked questions
What does “touchstone” mean?
The word “touchstone” means a dark stone once used to test the purity of gold or silver by rubbing the metal on it and examining the streak left behind. In plain terms, something used as a standard to judge or measure the quality of other things.
How do you pronounce “touchstone”?
“Touchstone” is pronounced TUHCHS-tohn (/ˈtʌt͡ʃstəʊn/ in IPA).
How do you use “touchstone” in a sentence?
Here is “touchstone” used in a sentence: “Jewelers once relied on a touchstone to check the purity of gold.”
What part of speech is “touchstone”?
“Touchstone” is a noun.
How many meanings does “touchstone” have?
“Touchstone” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a dark stone once used to test the purity of gold or silver by rubbing the metal on it and examining the streak left behind.
