travertine

[ trav-er-teen, -tin ]

noun

1. a form of limestone deposited by springs, especially hot springs, used in Italy for building.

travertine

/ ˈtrævətɪn /

noun

1. a porous rock consisting of calcium carbonate, used for building Also calledcalc-sinter

travertine

/ trăv′ər-tēn′,-tĭn /

1. A white, tan, or cream-colored form of limestone, often having a fibrous or concentric appearance. Travertine is formed through the rapid precipitation of calcium carbonate, especially at the mouth of a hot spring or in limestone caves, where it forms stalactites and stalagmites. It is similar to but harder than tufa.

Word History and Origins

Origin of travertine¹

1545–55; < Italian travertino, equivalent to tra- across (< Latin trāns- trans- ) + ( ti ) vertino < Latin Tīburtīnus, equivalent to Tīburt- (stem of Tīburs ) the territory of Tibur ( Tivoli ) + -īnus -ine ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of travertine¹

C18: from Italian travertino (influenced by tra- trans- ), from Latin lapis Tīburtīnus Tiburtine stone, from Tīburs the district around Tibur (now Tivoli)

Example Sentences

The travertine used to build it was mined from the same quarry outside of Rome that supplied stone for the Colosseum, New York City’s Lincoln Center and the Getty Museum.

From Los Angeles Times

By tearing up a stretch of the travertine floor and parts of the wall plaster, she revealed the remains of the original building before it was altered in 1938 according to the monumental principles of Nazi architecture.

From New York Times

“Well, your mom and I were torn between the walnut plank we have and a large-format beige travertine product,” I said.

From Seattle Times

“I vote for the travertine one for your sunroom because you’ve got two walls of windows. The sunlight streaming into the room will enhance the lighter LVP. The large format and light color should make the room feel bigger, too.”

From Seattle Times

For her tender and clever wall sculptures, she employs traditional stone-carving techniques to sculpt odd and bulbous shapes out of marble, travertine, brucite and limestone.

From Seattle Times