Marble / Granite / Limestone / Travertine / Soapstone
Main Entry: 1mar·ble
Pronunciation: 'mär-b&l
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French marbre, from Latin marmor, from Greek marmaros
1 a : limestone that is more or less crystallized by metamorphism, that ranges from granular to compact in texture, that is capable of taking a high polish, and that is used especially in architecture and sculpture b : something (as a piece of sculpture) composed of or made from marble c : something suggesting marble (as in hardness, coldness, or smoothness) <a heart of marble>
Main Entry: gran·ite
Pronunciation: 'gra-n&t
Function: noun
Etymology: Italian granito, from past participle of granire to granulate, from grano grain, from Latin granum
1 : a very hard natural igneous rock formation of visibly crystalline texture formed essentially of quartz and orthoclase or microcline and used especially for building and for monuments
Main Entry: lime·stone
Pronunciation: 'lIm-"stOn
Function: noun
: a rock that is formed chiefly by accumulation of organic remains (as shells or coral), consists mainly of calcium carbonate, is extensively used in building, and yields lime when burned
Main Entry: trav·er·tine
Pronunciation: 'tra-v&r-"tEn, -t&n
Function: noun
Etymology: French travertin, from Italian travertino, trevertino, from Latin tiburtinus, adjective, of travertine, literally, of Tibur (Tivoli)
: a mineral consisting of a massive usually layered calcium carbonate (as aragonite or calcite) formed by deposition from spring waters or especially from hot springs
Main Entry: soap·stone
Pronunciation: 'sOp-"stOn
Function: noun
: a soft stone having a soapy feel and composed essentially of talc, chlorite, and often some magnetite
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