Definition of "sand" in English

noun

1. (uncountable) Rock that is ground more finely than gravel, but is not as fine as silt (more formally, see grain sizes chart), forming beaches and deserts and also used in construction.

2. (uncountable, dated) Personal courage.

3. (uncountable, geology) A particle from 62.5 microns to 2 mm in diameter, following the Wentworth scale.

4. A light beige colour, like that of typical sand.

5. (countable, obsolete) A single grain of sand.

6. (countable, figurative) A moment or interval of time; the term or extent of one's life (referring to the sand in an hourglass).

   • Cf. sands of time (idiom)

7. Dried mucus in the eye's inner corner, perhaps left from sleep (sleepy sand).

adjective

1. Of a light beige colour, like that of typical sand.

verb

1. (transitive) To abrade the surface of (something) with sand or sandpaper in order to smooth or clean it.

2. (transitive) To cover with sand.

3. (transitive, historical) To blot ink using sand.

noun

1. (colloquial, birdwatching) Ellipsis of sandpiper.