Definition

A small, round piece of ice that falls from the sky during a storm.

Example

The hailstones were so large that they damaged the car's roof.

Conversation

Did you see the storm last night?

Yeah, it was crazy! I even found a hailstone in my yard this morning.

No way! How big was it?

It was about the size of a marble — really cool to see!

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Hailstone → It is formed from "hail" (from Old English *hægel*, meaning hail or frozen rain) and "stone" (from Old English *stan*, meaning rock or stone). The word "hailstone" refers to a small, rounded piece of ice that falls from the sky during a hailstorm, resembling a stone.

Memory Tip

Think of 'frozen rain' ('hail') that falls as small 'stones' ('stone') — that's what a hailstone is.

Visually Confused Words