ashlar: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Technical/Formal
Quick answer
What does “ashlar” mean?
A large, square-cut stone used in building, typically with even faces and dressed edges.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A large, square-cut stone used in building, typically with even faces and dressed edges.
Masonry made of such stones; also refers to a thin, dressed stone used as a facing on a wall of brick or rubble.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Spelling is identical. The term is equally technical in both varieties.
Connotations
Associated with traditional, high-quality, or historic stone construction in both regions.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency and specialized in both British and American English.
Grammar
How to Use “ashlar” in a Sentence
[Noun] made of ashlar[Verb] with ashlar[Adjective] ashlar [noun]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “ashlar” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The ashlar facade gave the building a dignified, classical appearance.
- They opted for an ashlar finish on the garden wall.
American English
- The courthouse features an ashlar exterior of local limestone.
- Ashlar construction was specified for the monument's base.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in construction project specifications or heritage restoration contracts.
Academic
Common in archaeology, architectural history, and civil engineering texts discussing historical building techniques.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation.
Technical
Standard term in stonemasonry, architecture, and building conservation.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “ashlar”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “ashlar”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “ashlar”
- Misspelling as 'ashler' or 'asshlar'.
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'to ashlar a wall' is non-standard).
- Confusing it with generic 'stone' or 'brick'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a low-frequency, specialized term used almost exclusively in architecture, masonry, and related fields.
No, 'ashlar' is solely a noun (and can function attributively as an adjective, e.g., 'ashlar wall'). The related verb for the process is 'to dress' or 'to face' stone.
Ashlar consists of precisely cut, rectangular stones with even beds and joints. Rubble masonry uses irregular, uncut, or roughly shaped stones, often with mortar filling the gaps.
They are very close synonyms. 'Ashlar' often implies the stone is not only dressed (shaped) but also squared and intended for precise, regular coursing in a wall. All ashlar is dressed stone, but not all dressed stone is necessarily ashlar.
A large, square-cut stone used in building, typically with even faces and dressed edges.
Ashlar is usually technical/formal in register.
Ashlar: in British English it is pronounced /ˈæʃ.lə(r)/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈæʃ.lɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'ASH' (like the tree, but here unrelated) + 'LAR' (sounds like 'large'). A large, perfectly cut stone.
Conceptual Metaphor
PRECISION IS SQUARENESS (The regularity of ashlar represents order and skilled craftsmanship).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary characteristic of ashlar?