noun
stonework
STOHN-wurk/ˈstəʊnwɜːrk/
Building or decorative work done in stone.
The old courthouse features elaborate stonework around its main entrance.
Etymology
Work here means the thing made, not just the effort of making it. Combined with stone, it names the finished masonry—the structures or surfaces produced from that material.
In context
The precision of the stonework here is remarkable with granite blocks carefully cut and stacked together to create stable walls and towers.
More examples
- Skilled masons do all the stonework on the new chapel.
- We clean the garden wall's stonework with a soft brush.
- Her stonework includes carved fireplaces and decorative panels.
Forms
stonework
stoneworker noun — A person who builds with or shapes stone.
Similar words
- masonry
- Includes construction in brick or concrete blocks, not just stone.
- stonecarving
- Focuses on shaping or decorating stone rather than building structures.