sand
Definitions
General English
Agriculture
- noun fine grains of weathered rock, usually round grains of quartz, found especially on beaches and in the desert
Cars & Driving
- verb to smooth or clean a surface by rubbing with sandpaper
Construction
- granular material able to pass through the 3/8" sieve, almost entirely passing the No.4 (4.75-millimeter) sieve, and predominantly retained on the No.200 (75-micrometer) sieve, and resulting from natural disintegration and abrasion of rock or processing of completely friable sandstone.
- That portion of an aggregate passing the No.4 (4.75-millimeter) sieve, and resulting from natural disintegration and abrasion of rock or processing of completely friable sandstone. See also fine aggregate. Note: The definitions are alternatives to be applied underdiffering circumstances. Definition 1. is applied to an entire aggregate either in a natural condition or after processing. Definition 2. is applied to a portion of an aggregate. Requirements for properties and grading shouldbe stated in the specifications. Fine aggregate produced by crushing rock, gravel, or slag commonly is known as manufactured sand.
Military
- noun a substance consisting of tiny grains of rock, which covers the ground on beaches and in deserts
Real Estate
- noun a substance consisting of fine loose grains of rock or minerals, usually quartz fragments, found on beaches, in deserts and in soil, widely used as a building material
- verb to rub a surface with glasspaper to make it smoother
- verb to add sand to something, e.g. to a mixture of materials when making mortar
Origin & History of “sand”
Sand is a widespread Germanic word, shared by German, Swedish, and Danish (Dutch has zand). Its prehistoric source was *sandam, which went back to an Indo-European *samdam. this also produced Latin sabulum ‘sand’, which evolved into French sable and Italian sabbia ‘sand’. It probably came ultimately from a base which signified ‘grind, crush’.
