My Celine  +  128881 Sat, 20 Aug 05 01:33 PM What is the difference between rock and stone? In my native language, they are more or less the same in meaning. So I am very confused. My Celine Joined on Fri, Aug 5 2005 Hong Kong Full Member 116 Difference Between

	davkett  +  128885 Sat, 20 Aug 05 01:44 PM These are generally interchangeable terms.  Even when used as idiomatic for a gem like a diamond, called 'a stone' or 'a rock'.  'Gemstone' is not idiomatic.  You won't normally hear 'Gemrock'. davkett Joined on Tue, Jun 7 2005 Pennsylvania, USA Senior Member 2,788 "The rose stays fresh in its name..." -Bernard of Morlay

	khoff  +  129036 Sat, 20 Aug 05 10:30 PM I think if you are talking about a building or sculpting material you would be somewhat more likely to use "stone" - The statue was carved out of stone; there was a stone wall around the property.  If you pick up a rock/stone on the beach, you can use either word. khoff Joined on Sun, Mar 6 2005 Senior Member 3,216 Native speaker of American English (but not a grammar expert)

	Clive  +  129068 Sun, 21 Aug 05 01:14 AM Hi, Although I don't live in the UK anymore, I'd say that there are differences between BrE and AmE. To me, a stone sounds smaller than a rock. In BrE, you have a stone in your shoe. In AmE, you have a rock in it. Best wishes, Clive Clive Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004 Canada Veteran Member 29,301 El tango argentino es un pensamiento triste que se puede bailar (The tango argentino is a sad thought which can be danced) Enrique Santos Discépolo

	davkett  +  129072 Sun, 21 Aug 05 01:37 AM Yeh, Clive, the other day I told my wife I found the Rosetta stone in one of my hiking boots.  She said I must have rocks in my head. davkett

	TeacherJoe  +  129086 Sun, 21 Aug 05 03:30 AM  Clive wrote: To me, a stone sounds smaller than a rock. In BrE, you have a stone in your shoe. In AmE, you have a rock in it. Hi Clive, Perhaps there are regional differences within North America as well. Growing up in the northeastern United States, I never heard anyone say they have a rock in their shoe. Rock sounds larger to me, too. Teacher Joe TeacherJoe Joined on Fri, Aug 19 2005 New York, Beijing, Honolulu, Paris, Osaka New Member 22 Good teachers cost a lot.Bad teachers cost a lot more.

	MrPedantic  +  129133 Sun, 21 Aug 05 08:43 AM Interesting. I think we have 'gemstone' in BrE. This is how I hear the other words – do AmE/CanE ears differ? 1. 'That wall is solid rock' – a geological feature. 2. 'Stone walls do not a prison make', 'heart of stone' – 'stone' is the material. 3. 'I picked up a rock' – suggests something large, and perhaps quite rough. 4. 'I picked up a piece of rock' – suggests something rough and irregular, that derives directly from a geological feature (e.g. a cliff). 5. 'I picked up a pebble' – suggests something small, smooth, and with a regular rounded shape.  6. 'I picked up a stone' – suggests something smaller, and perhaps quite smooth, though with an irregular shape. Also 'boulder' – a very large piece of rock, that derives directly from a geological feature; perhaps quite shapely. MrP MrPedantic Joined on Tue, Oct 12 2004 Veteran Member 13,616 ...opella forensis / adducit febris...

	davkett  +  129187 Sun, 21 Aug 05 01:05 PM MrP, from the American side of Niagara Falls-- Your nos. 1 - 6:  all familiar. Then-- rock hound, rock climber, rock candy, bedrock, sheet rock, rock band, rock drawings and, The Rock:  http://visibleh20.com/ipw-web/b2/index.php?p=275 versus-- stone mason, stone cold, stone jar, Stone Age, stoned and, The Stones:  http://www.gasolinealleyantiques.com/celebrity/images/Rock/stones-grooves.JPG davkett

	Clive  +  129341 Sun, 21 Aug 05 10:38 PM Hi Mr.P, All of the above sound normal in CanE, to me. Other off the cuff ramblings and idioms about rock/stone: Let he who is without sin among you 'cast the first stone' Rock of ages A headstone on a grave Stone the crows (although rock the boat, ha-ha) Maybe in BrCanE. stone cold a stone killer (because he has a heart of stone, I suppose) dead as a stone get blood from a stone a rock, to suggest that a gem-stone like a diamond is very big a rolling stone ... (the USA has a beer called Rolling Rock) Clive     Clive Idioms