sand

/sænd/

/sænd/

Other forms: sands; sanded; sanding

Sand is a substance that's made of tiny pieces of rock. The sand on some beaches is rough and pebbly, while other sand is smooth and soft. Either way, don't track it into the house.

You can find sand on riverbanks, in flower beds, and in sandboxes, among many other places. Grains of sand are composed of rocks and coral that have been worn down over the years. As a verb, sand means "make smooth with sandpaper." There's also an old fashioned colloquial way to use this word, to mean "determination" or "grit." So you could say, "I'm impressed that she had the sand to travel in India by herself!"

Definitions of sand

1. noun

   a loose material consisting of grains of rock or coral
   type of:

   dirt, soil

   the part of the earth's surface consisting of humus and disintegrated rock
2. verb

   rub with sandpaper
   synonyms: sandpaper

   types:

   rough-sand

   sand roughly

   type of:

   smooth, smoothen

   make smooth or smoother, as if by rubbing
3. noun

   fortitude and determination
   synonyms: backbone, grit, gumption, guts, moxie

   type of:

   fortitude

   strength of mind that enables one to endure adversity with courage