boulder

¹

or bowl·der

[ bohl-der ]

noun

1. a detached and rounded or worn rock, especially a large one.

Boulder

²

[ bohl-der ]

noun

1. a city in N Colorado.

boulder

/ ˈbəʊldə /

noun

1. a smooth rounded mass of rock that has a diameter greater than 25cm and that has been shaped by erosion and transported by ice or water from its original position
2. geology a rock fragment with a diameter greater than 256 mm and thus bigger than a cobble

Derived Forms

• ˈbouldery, adjective

Other Words From

• bouldered adjective
• boulder·y adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of boulder¹

1610–20; short for boulder stone; Middle English bulderston < Scandinavian; compare dialectal Swedish bullersten big stone (in a stream), equivalent to buller rumbling noise (< Old Swedish bulder ) + sten stone

Word History and Origins

Origin of boulder¹

C13: probably of Scandinavian origin; compare Swedish dialect bullersten , from Old Swedish bulder rumbling + sten stone

Example Sentences

Dr. Warren Hern, who specializes in fetal anomaly abortions and director of the Boulder Abortion Clinic, is one of the few providers to provide abortion care later in pregnancy.

From Salon

“Hurricanes occur naturally, and in some parts of the world they are regarded as part of life,” explains Kevin Trenberth, a distinguished scholar at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado, USA.

From BBC

Angelus Oaks and the Boulder Bay area of Big Bear were under an evacuation warning.

From Los Angeles Times

We get to the Boulder Theater and we get downstairs to our dressing rooms — amazing setup and an all-access pass.

From Salon

“Justice has finally been done,” Boulder District Attorney Michael Dougherty, whose office prosecuted the case, said.

From BBC

Related Words

• hunk
• ingot
• lump
• piece
• plate
• rod
• slice
• stone
• strip
• wedge