Boulder vs. Stone — What's the Difference?
By Fiza Rafique & Maham Liaqat — Updated on May 3, 2024
Boulders are large rocks, typically over 10 inches in diameter, naturally shaped by geological processes; stones are smaller, can be naturally occurring or shaped by human activity, and are more versatile in use.
Difference Between Boulder and Stone
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A boulder is a large rock, typically measuring more than 10 inches in diameter and often found in natural settings like riverbeds, mountains, and coasts. Whereas, a stone is generally smaller, varying widely in size but commonly fitting within the hand, making it more manageable for various uses.
Boulders are primarily formed through weathering and erosion processes which give them their large and often irregular shapes. On the other hand, stones can also be shaped by natural processes but are more frequently modified by humans for construction, landscaping, and artistic purposes.
Due to their size, boulders are commonly used in landscaping as focal points or natural barriers. Stones, however, are more versatile in use, including building materials, in pavement, as decorative elements, and in jewelry.
Boulders, being large and heavy, are not as easily moved or manipulated without heavy machinery. Whereas stones can be easily handled, transported, and used in a variety of settings, from small garden paths to intricate mosaics.
In terms of visual impact, a boulder can dominate a landscape, providing a sense of permanence and natural strength. Stones, due to their smaller size and greater variability, offer flexibility in design and can enhance aesthetic detail in both natural and urban environments.
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Comparison Chart
Size
Typically larger than 10 inches in diameter
Smaller, often hand-sized
Formation
Natural geological processes like erosion
Naturally occurring or shaped by humans
Common Uses
Landscaping, natural barriers
Building materials, decoration, jewelry
Manipulation
Requires heavy machinery
Easily handled and transported
Visual and Aesthetic Impact
Dominates landscapes, sense of permanence
Flexible in design, enhances details
Compare with Definitions
Boulder
A geological feature formed by erosion and weathering.
Glacial boulders are scattered across the valley.
Stone
A tool or weapon in historical contexts.
Early humans used flint stones to start fires.
Boulder
A natural barrier in landscaping and construction.
Boulders were used to prevent soil erosion along the riverbank.
Stone
A small piece of rock, used for various purposes.
She collected colorful stones from the beach for her project.
Boulder
A large rock typically found in natural environments.
The boulder at the park's entrance has become a popular photo spot.
Stone
An element in landscaping, such as in pathways or walls.
They used smooth stones to create a winding garden path.
Boulder
A symbol of strength and permanence in cultural contexts.
The ancient boulder has stood at the village's boundary for centuries.
Stone
A unit of weight in some countries.
He lost two stones after several months of fitness training.
Boulder
A component of rock climbing challenges.
That boulder offers several routes with varying difficulty levels.
Stone
A building material, especially in masonry and sculpture.
The cathedral is admired for its intricate stone carvings.
Boulder
In geology (Udden–Wentworth scale), a boulder is a rock fragment with size greater than 256 millimetres (10.1 in) in diameter. Smaller pieces are called cobbles and pebbles.
Stone
Hard solid non-metallic mineral matter of which rock is made, especially as a building material
The houses are built of stone
High stone walls
Boulder
A large rounded mass of rock lying on the surface of the ground or embedded in the soil.
Stone
A piece of stone shaped for a purpose, especially one of commemoration, ceremony, or demarcation
A memorial stone
Boundary stones
Boulder
A large mass of stone detached from the surrounding land.
Stone
A hard seed in a cherry, plum, peach, and some other fruits.
Boulder
(geology) A particle greater than 256 mm in diameter, following the Wentworth scale
Stone
A unit of weight equal to 14 lb (6.35 kg)
I weighed 10 stone
Boulder
A large marble, in children's games.
Stone
A natural shade of whitish or brownish-grey
Stone stretch trousers
Boulder
(climbing) A session of bouldering; involvement in bouldering.
Stone
Throw stones at
Two people were stoned to death
Policemen were stoned by the crowd
Boulder
To engage in bouldering.
Stone
Remove the stone from (a fruit).
Boulder
Same as Bowlder.
Stone
Build, face, or pave with stone
The honey-stoned, eighteenth-century city
Boulder
A large smooth mass of rock detached from its place of origin
Stone
Concreted earthy or mineral matter; rock.
Boulder
A town in north central Colorado; Rocky Mountains resort center and university town
Stone
Such concreted matter of a particular type. Often used in combination
Sandstone.
Soapstone.
Stone
A small piece of rock.
Stone
A piece of rock that is used in construction
A coping stone.
A paving stone.
Stone
A gravestone or tombstone.
Stone
A grindstone, millstone, or whetstone.
Stone
A milestone or boundary.
Stone
A gem or precious stone.
Stone
Something, such as a hailstone, resembling a stone in shape or hardness.
Stone
(Botany) The hard covering enclosing the seed in certain fruits, such as the cherry, plum, or peach.
Stone
(Medicine) A mineral concretion in an organ, such as the kidney or gallbladder, or other body part; a calculus.
Stone
Pl. stone Abbr. st. A unit of weight in Great Britain, 14 pounds (6.4 kilograms).
Stone
(Printing) A table with a smooth surface on which page forms are composed.
Stone
Relating to or made of stone
A stone wall.
Stone
Made of stoneware or earthenware.
Stone
Complete; utter. Often used in combination
A stone liar.
Stone-deaf.
Stone
Completely; utterly
Stone cold.
Standing stone still.
Stone
To hurl or throw stones at, especially to kill with stones.
Stone
To remove the stones or pits from.
Stone
To furnish, fit, pave, or line with stones.
Stone
To rub on or with a stone in order to polish or sharpen.
Stone
(Sports) To block a shot taken by (an opponent). Used of a goalie.
Stone
(Obsolete) To make hard or indifferent.
Stone
(uncountable) A hard earthen substance that can form large rocks.
Stone
A small piece of stone, a pebble.
Stone
A gemstone, a jewel, especially a diamond.
Stone
(British) A unit of mass equal to 14 pounds (≈6.3503 kilograms), formerly used for various commodities (wool, cheese, etc.), but now principally used for personal weight.
Stone
(botany) The central part of some fruits, particularly drupes; consisting of the seed and a hard endocarp layer.
A peach stone
Stone
(medicine) A hard, stone-like deposit.
Stone
(board games) A playing piece made of any hard material, used in various board games such as backgammon and go.
Stone
A dull light grey or beige, like that of some stones.
Stone
(curling) A 42-pound, precisely shaped piece of granite with a handle attached, which is bowled down the ice.
Stone
A monument to the dead; a gravestone or tombstone.
Stone
(obsolete) A mirror, or its glass.
Stone
(obsolete) A testicle.
Stone
A stand or table with a smooth, flat top of stone, commonly marble, on which to arrange the pages of a book, newspaper, etc. before printing.
Stone
(transitive) To pelt with stones, especially to kill by pelting with stones.
She got stoned to death after they found her.
Stone
(transitive) To wall with stones.
Stone
(transitive) To remove a stone from (fruit etc.).
Stone
(intransitive) To form a stone during growth, with reference to fruit etc.
Stone
To intoxicate, especially with narcotics. Usually in passive
Stone
To do nothing, to stare blankly into space and not pay attention when relaxing or when bored.
Stone
(transitive) To lap with an abrasive stone to remove surface irregularities.
Stone
Constructed of stone.
Stone walls
Stone
Having the appearance of stone.
Stone pot
Stone
Of a dull light grey or beige, like that of some stones.
Stone
(AAVE) Used as an intensifier.
She is one stone fox.
Stone
As a stone used with following adjective.
My father is stone deaf. This soup is stone cold.
Stone
(slang) Absolutely, completely used with following adjectives.
I went stone crazy after she left.
I said the medication made my vision temporarily blurry, it did not make me stone blind.
Stone
Concreted earthy or mineral matter; also, any particular mass of such matter; as, a house built of stone; the boy threw a stone; pebbles are rounded stones.
They had brick for stone, and slime . . . for mortar.
Stone
A precious stone; a gem.
Stone
Something made of stone. Specifically: -
Stone
The glass of a mirror; a mirror.
Lend me a looking-glass;If that her breath will mist or stain the stone,Why, then she lives.
Stone
A calculous concretion, especially one in the kidneys or bladder; the disease arising from a calculus.
Stone
A monument to the dead; a gravestone.
Should some relenting eyeGlance on the where our cold relics lie.
Stone
One of the testes; a testicle.
Stone
The hard endocarp of drupes; as, the stone of a cherry or peach. See Illust. of Endocarp.
Stone
A weight which legally is fourteen pounds, but in practice varies with the article weighed.
Stone
Fig.: Symbol of hardness and insensibility; torpidness; insensibility; as, a heart of stone.
I have not yet forgot myself to stone.
Stone
A stand or table with a smooth, flat top of stone, commonly marble, on which to arrange the pages of a book, newspaper, etc., before printing; - called also imposing stone.
Stone
To pelt, beat, or kill with stones.
And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
Stone
To make like stone; to harden.
O perjured woman! thou dost stone my heart.
Stone
To free from stones; also, to remove the seeds of; as, to stone a field; to stone cherries; to stone raisins.
Stone
To wall or face with stones; to line or fortify with stones; as, to stone a well; to stone a cellar.
Stone
To rub, scour, or sharpen with a stone.
Stone
A lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter;
He threw a rock at me
Stone
Material consisting of the aggregate of minerals like those making up the Earth's crust;
That mountain is solid rock
Stone is abundant in New England and there are many quarries
Stone
Building material consisting of a piece of rock hewn in a definite shape for a special purpose;
He wanted a special stone to mark the site
Stone
A crystalline rock that can be cut and polished for jewelry;
He had the gem set in a ring for his wife
She had jewels made of all the rarest stones
Stone
The hard inner (usually woody) layer of the pericarp of some fruits (as peaches or plums or cherries or olives) that contains the seed;
You should remove the stones from prunes before cooking
Stone
An avoirdupois unit used to measure the weight of a human body; equal to 14 pounds;
A heavy chap who must have weighed more than twenty stone
Stone
United States filmmaker (born in 1946)
Stone
United States feminist and suffragist (1818-1893)
Stone
United States journalist who advocated liberal causes (1907-1989)
Stone
United States jurist who served on the United States Supreme Court as Chief Justice (1872-1946)
Stone
United States architect (1902-1978)
Stone
A lack of feeling or expression or movement;
He must have a heart of stone
Her face was as hard as stone
Stone
Remove the pits from;
Pit plums and cherries
Stone
Of any of various dull tannish-gray colors
Common Curiosities
How are stones used in construction?
Stones are versatile in construction, used for building, paving, and decorative elements.
Can boulders be moved manually?
Due to their size and weight, boulders usually require machinery to be moved.
What are the environmental impacts of using boulders and stones?
Using these materials can impact the landscape and local ecology, especially when removed from their natural setting.
How do boulders form?
Boulders form through natural erosion and weathering processes, often becoming isolated as softer rock around them wears away.
Can stones be synthetic?
Yes, stones can be artificially produced for specific industrial or decorative purposes.
What are common tools for shaping stones?
Common tools include hammers, chisels, and grinders.
What defines a boulder?
A boulder is defined by its large size, typically over 10 inches in diameter, and natural formation through geological processes.
Are all stones small?
Most stones are small enough to be held in the hand, but the term can refer to larger rocks as well.
What types of stones are there?
There are many types, including igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic stones.
Is there a cultural significance to boulders?
Yes, in many cultures, boulders hold symbolic meanings of strength and endurance.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
