boulder

noun

boul·​der ˈbōl-dər How to pronounce boulder (audio)
variants or less commonly bowlder
: a detached and rounded or much-worn mass of rock
bouldered adjective
bouldery adjective

Examples of boulder in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Authorities said a boulder fell and fatally injured the girl in what the Washoe County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled an accident. Sacbee.com, 2 Apr. 2025 Engineered boulders will be placed in the river to create waves. Dana Oland, Idaho Statesman, 1 Apr. 2025 Duplo Town Truck and Tracked Excavator Construction Set Little Lego builders as young as 2 can get in on the fun with this Duplo set, which comes with two construction worker figures, a push-along truck with a tipping function, push-along excavator with a rotating digger, and a boulder. Mia Huelsbeck, People.com, 26 Mar. 2025 Fun fact: Hundreds of thousands of pounds of granite boulders were hauled in using only mules, wagons, and ropes to create the building’s signature stone façade. Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 14 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for boulder

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of boulder was in 1607

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Cite this Entry

“Boulder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/boulder. Accessed 7 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

boulder

noun
boul·​der ˈbōl-dər How to pronounce boulder (audio)
: a large detached and rounded or worn mass of rock

Geographical Definition

Boulder

geographical name

Boul·​der ˈbōl-dər How to pronounce Boulder (audio)
city northwest of Denver in north central Colorado population 97,385

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