Definition

A type of hard stone used to test the quality of precious metals, or a standard by which other things are judged or measured.

Example

The artist's latest work became a touchstone for modern sculpture.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of a touchstone in art?

Yeah, it’s like a standard to measure quality, right?

Exactly! It helps artists compare their work to the best examples.

That’s so interesting — I love how art has its own standards.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Touchstone → It is formed from "touch" (from Old English "tōccean", meaning to come into contact with) and "stone" (from Old English "stan", meaning a solid mineral matter). The word "touchstone" refers to a stone used to test the quality of gold or silver by the touch of a metal against it, symbolizing a standard for testing or evaluating something.

Memory Tip

Think of 'coming into contact' ('touch') with a 'solid mineral' ('stone') to test its quality — that's why a touchstone is used as a standard for evaluation.

Visually Confused Words