/ sænd; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
1.
[ U ] a substance that consists of very small fine grains of rock. Sand is found on beaches, in deserts, etc. :
a grain of sand
Concrete is a mixture of sand and cement.
His hair was the colour of sand.
The children were playing in the sand (= for example, in a sandpit ) .
2.
[ U , C , usually pl. ] a large area of sand on a beach :
We went for a walk along the sand.
children playing on the sand
miles of golden sands
—see also sandy
•
IDIOMS
see head noun , shift verb ➡ note at coast
■ verb
[ vn ] sand sth (down) to make sth smooth by rubbing it with sandpaper or using a sander
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch zand and German Sand .