noun
touchstone
TUHCHS-tohn
noun
1
A dark stone once used to test the purity of gold or silver by rubbing the metal on it and examining the streak left behind.
"Jewelers once relied on a touchstone to check the purity of gold."
2
A standard or test used to judge the quality or genuineness of something.
"Honesty became the touchstone by which she judged all her friendships."
"The novel is often used as a touchstone for great American fiction."
How to Use Touchstone
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething used as a standard to judge or measure the quality of other things.
Common pairings
a touchstone for
serve as a touchstone
Word Forms
touchstones plural, Touchstones plural
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Jewelers once relied on a _____ to check the purity of gold.
Etymology
A compound of touch and stone, from the literal stone used to test metals.