boulder

noun

boul·​der ˈbōl-dər 

variants or less commonly bowlder

: a detached and rounded or much-worn mass of rock

bouldered

ˈbōl-dərd 

adjective

bouldery

ˈbōl-d(ə-)rē 

adjective

Examples of boulder in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

An array of park trails are within a 25-minute drive of your tower, including Sunday Gulch Trailhead, which weaves by dramatic van-sized boulders for three miles, or the take the route up Black Elk Peak, South Dakota’s highest point. —Stephanie Vermillion, Outside Online, 6 Nov. 2024

The last remaining boulder – weighing some 500 kilograms (1,100 pounds) – proved difficult to shift, Watts said. —Hilary Whiteman, CNN, 22 Oct. 2024

Maxar Technologies/Handout via REUTERS In Manasota Key, on the western coast of Florida just south of Sarasota, Milton's storm surge sent massive boulders and at least one boat up the beaches and hurled them into waterfront buildings. —Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2024

In his backyard, oblong boulders sat on the grass, resting on each other at odd angles. —Saki Knafo, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

short for boulder stone, from Middle English bulder ston, partial translation of a word of Scandinavian origin; akin to Swedish dialect bullersten large stone in a stream, from buller noise + sten stone

First Known Use

1607, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

boulder

noun

boul·​der ˈbōl-dər 

: a large detached and rounded or worn mass of rock

Geographical Definition

Boulder

geographical name

Boul·​der ˈbōl-dər 

city northwest of Denver in north central Colorado population 97,385