boulder

Everyday

A boulder is a very large, rounded rock, too big to pick up. tree →

In the lessons

In geography and science boulders are moved by glaciers, rivers and landslides; weathering and erosion slowly break them into smaller stones, pebbles and sand. In everyday life and safety: falling boulders are a danger on mountain roads (warning signs), and «bouldering» is climbing on low rocks or walls with a mat. In stories heroes roll boulders away from cave mouths.

Examples

• A huge boulder blocked the path. tree →
• The glacier carried boulders down the valley. tree →
• We climbed on the boulders at the beach. tree →
• The sign warned of falling boulders. tree →
• It took ten people to push the boulder. tree →
• Over a long time, water wore the boulder smooth. tree →
• One feels quite a novice beside these venerable million-year-old boulders. tree →

Note

Countable. Size order from big to small: boulder, rock, stone, pebble, gravel, sand. Not to be confused with «bolder» (more brave), which sounds the same.