Limestones

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of sedimentary rock primarily composed of calcite, often formed from marine organisms and characterized by its use in construction and industry
2. Sedimentary rock consisting mainly of calcium carbonate, typically resulting from accumulated marine debris and utilized in various building applications
3. A rock mainly made of calcite derived from shell deposits, commonly found in geological formations and widely applied in the manufacturing of cement and lime

Etymology: The plural "limestones" is simply "limestone" with an "s" added, used when people mean several distinct varieties or specimens of the rock. The singular is a plain compound: "lime," the substance made by burning calcium-rich rock, joined to "stone," which traces back through Old English "stān" to a Proto-Germanic root meaning the same thing. Calcium carbonate rock was named for its role as the raw material for lime, so the word describes the rock by what it yields when heated.