granite

noun

gran·​ite ˈgra-nət 

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

2

: unyielding firmness or endurance

the cold granite of Puritan formalism

—V. L. Parrington

granitelike

ˈgra-nət-ˌlīk 

adjective

granitic

gra-ˈni-tik 

adjective

granitoid

ˈgra-nə-ˌtȯid 

adjective

Synonyms

• decidedness
• decision
• decisiveness
• determination
• determinedness
• firmness
• purposefulness
• resoluteness
• resolution
• resolve
• stick-to-itiveness

Examples of granite in a Sentence

had the granite to see the project out to the end

Recent Examples on the Web

Part of the junk’s ballast had been provided by granite gravestones, brought by the migrants from China for use at the end of their lives. —Sam Knight, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2024

Reaching the observatory’s sphere requires a slow trip by cable car, which crawls at about 4 mph down a long, sloping tunnel carved into the granite. —Eric Baculinao, NBC News, 31 Oct. 2024

One of the gleaming multimillion-dollar mansions nestled among towering pine trees and granite peaks in this exclusive mountain enclave? —Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2024

The most iconic buildings in the city have their own distinct styles, starting with the 1919 Art Nouveau granite train station designed by Eliel Saarinen. —Catherine Garcia, theweek, 21 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Italian granito, from past participle of granire to granulate, from grano grain, from Latin granum

First Known Use

1646, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

granite

noun

gran·​ite ˈgran-ət 

1

: a very hard rock that can be polished and is used in buildings and monuments

2

: unyielding firmness (as of character, will, or opinion)