granite
noun/ˈɡɹæn.ɪt/ · /ˈɡɹæn.aɪt/
Etymology From French granit (“granite”), from Italian granito (“granite”), from granire (“to granulate”), from grano (“grain”), from Latin grānum (“grain”). Compare granita.
1
Geography, Geology, Natural sciences A group of igneous and plutonic rocks composed primarily of feldspar and quartz. Usually contains one or more dark minerals, which may be mica, pyroxene, or amphibole. Granite is quarried for building stone, road gravel, decorative stone, and tombstones. Common colors are gray, white, pink, and yellow-brown.
- Many monuments sold in the US are crafted from granite produced in China, India and elsewhere overseas, while a lot of stone-working equipment comes from Europe.2022 February 21, Tami Luhby, “Headstone makers struggle to serve grieving families as supply chain woes continue”, in CNN, archived from the original on 12 Jun 2025:
2
Figuratively Toughness; the quality of having a thick skin or being rough.
- ‘Then the father has a great fight with his terrible conscience,’ said Munday with granite seriousness. ‘Should he make a row with the police […]? Or should he say nothing about it and condone brutality for fear of appearing in the newspapers?1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 18, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC:
- The neighbor is eventually able to sell her home despite Homer’s pants-less affronts to propriety and decency and Bart falls deeply and instantly for one of its new inhabitants, a tough but charming and funny tomboy girl named Laura (voiced by Sara Gilbert) with just the right combination of toughness and sweetness, granite and honey.2012 May 27, Nathan Rabin, “TV: Review: THE SIMPSONS (CLASSIC): “New Kid On The Block” (season 4, episode 8; originally aired 11/12/1992)”, in The Onion AV Club, archived from the original on 14 Aug 2012:
- Derived terms
30 terms
bite on granite, cumulogranite, Granite Bay, granite blue, Granite City, Granite County, Granite Falls, Granite Flat, granitelike, granite poison, Graniteville, graniteware, granitic, granitical, granitification, granitiform, granitisation, granitise, granitite, granitization, granitize, granitized, granitoid, granodiorite, granolith, leucogranite, microgranite, monzogranite, pregranitic, take for granite- Related terms
- pegmatite, feldspar, quartz, granodiorite
- Hyponyms
- syenite