boulder

== English == === Alternative forms === bowlder, bulder (dated) === Etymology === From late Middle English bulder, short for Middle English bulder ston (“a stone that's been worn into a round shape, boulder, cobblestone”), possibly from Old Swedish *buldersten, itself possibly from Old Swedish bulder (“rumble, noise”) + sten (“stone”); whence dialectal Swedish bullersten (“large stone in a stream, causing water to roar around it”). The first element may alternatively be allied to Old Swedish bulle, bolle (“round drinking vessel, tumbler”), from Old Norse bolli, related to Old English bolla (“round object, bowl”), see English bowl. === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈbəʊl.də(ɹ)/ (General American) IPA(key): /ˈboʊldɚ/ Rhymes: -əʊldə(ɹ) Homophone: bolder === Noun === boulder (plural boulders) A large mass of stone detached from the surrounding land. (geology) A particle greater than 256 mm in diameter, following the Wentworth scale A large marble, in children's games. (climbing) A session of bouldering; involvement in bouldering. ==== Hyponyms ==== ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === Verb === boulder (third-person singular simple present boulders, present participle bouldering, simple past and past participle bouldered) (climbing, ambitransitive) To engage in bouldering. ==== Derived terms ==== === Anagrams === doubler