touchstone

[ tuhch-stohn ]
See synonyms for touchstone on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a test or criterion for the qualities of a thing.

  2. a black siliceous stone formerly used to test the purity of gold and silver by the color of the streak produced on it by rubbing it with either metal.

Origin of touchstone

1
First recorded in 1475–85; touch + stone

Other words for touchstone

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use touchstone in a sentence

  • Touchstones are useful in deciding the probable value of gold alloys.

    The A B C of Mining | Charles A. Bramble
  • We have touchstones for all this, and every one makes use of them before making known the fruits of his labors.

  • Poverty and money; these two things are the touchstones of love, esteem, friendship.

    Mortomley's Estate, Vol. III (of 3) | Charlotte Elizabeth Lawson Cowan Riddell
  • With principles, with touchstones, with standards, it has nothing whatever to do.

    Ephemera Critica | John Churton Collins
  • These debates have elicited a vast deal of talent, and have served as touchstones to try real merit and power.

    The Greville Memoirs | Charles C. F. Greville

British Dictionary definitions for touchstone

touchstone

/ (ˈtʌtʃˌstəʊn) /


noun
  1. a criterion or standard by which judgment is made

  2. a hard dark siliceous stone, such as basalt or jasper, that is used to test the quality of gold and silver from the colour of the streak they produce on it

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012