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HOW TO PRONOUNCE

tombstone

/ˈtuːmstoʊn/

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American Pronunciation Guide · 0:47
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What does tombstone mean?

noun

  1. A grave marker, a stone slab or similar object marking a person's grave.
  2. The symbol "∎" marking the end of a proof.
  3. A marker that takes the place of deleted data, allowing for replication of the deletion across servers etc.
More meanings (9)

noun

  1. A crashdump.
  2. An unusual morphological feature on an electrocardiogram indicative of acute myocardial infarction, characterized by a massive ST elevation.
  3. A printed advertisement in a newspaper or magazine, typically having unadorned centered text in black and white, enclosed in a simple box.
  4. A museum plaque or caption displaying information about a work of art or exhibited object.
  5. (archaic, slang) A pawnbroker's ticket.

verb

  1. To take part in tombstoning: to jump into the sea, etc. from a cliff or other high point so as to enter the water vertically straight.
  2. For a surfboard to stand upright half-submerged in the water (like a tombstone, above) because the surfer is underwater with his or her legrope pulled tight. Often this indicates a surfer in difficulty, either held down by the power of a wave or unconscious and unable to get to the surface.
  3. To replace (an object or data) with a tombstone marker.

proper noun

  1. A city in Cochise County, southeastern Arizona, United States.

Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0

IPA pronunciation

/ˈtuːmstoʊn/

Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0

Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.

In the pages of books

See this word in context.

But just as I was turning to the end to read the inscription on my tombstone, I woke up.
Jean WebsterDaddy-Long-LegsProject Gutenberg ebook #157
“I think ’twas because two men came just then from Casterbridge and began putting up grand carved tombstone,” said Liddy.
Thomas HardyFar from the Madding CrowdProject Gutenberg ebook #27
More book examples (3)
Jerome seated himself on a marble tombstone, and commenced reading from a book which he had carried under his arm.
William Wells BrownClotelle; Or, The Colored Heroine, a tale of the Southern States; Or, The President's DaughterProject Gutenberg ebook #241
As we fall asleep after such a visit, we like to think of the meadow-larks singing on the mossy tombstone in the morning.
Edward Payson RoeSuccess with Small FruitsProject Gutenberg ebook #6117
When I first saw the tombstone, an ash tree was growing out of the top of the main body of it, though that has since been removed.
James NasmythJames Nasmyth, Engineer: An AutobiographyProject Gutenberg ebook #476