boulder

noun

boul·​der ˈbōl-dər 

variants or less commonly bowlder

: a detached and rounded or much-worn mass of rock

bouldered

ˈbōl-dərd 

adjective

bouldery

ˈbōl-d(ə-)rē 

adjective

Examples of boulder in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

These squat lobsters are usually found clinging upside down on boulders and overhangs and disappear the instant the camera shutter is pressed. —Alan Taylor, The Atlantic, 25 Feb. 2025

The dunes and plants would occupy about half an acre now taken up by boulders and plastic barriers, leaving the remaining 18.5 acres of beach open, Timberlake said. —Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Feb. 2025

Without being able to seep into the ground, that water flows downhill, pushing mud and possibly rocks, branches, boulders and other debris toward foothill communities. —Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2025

The lizards were seen on boulders and vines at night. —Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 7 Feb. 2025

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

Rhymes for boulder

• bolder
• bowlder
• colder
• folder
• golder
• holder
• molder
• moulder
• older
• polder
• shoulder
• beholder

Kids Definition

boulder

noun

boul·​der ˈbōl-dər 

: a large detached and rounded or worn mass of rock

Geographical Definition

Boulder

geographical name

Boul·​der ˈbōl-dər 

city northwest of Denver in north central Colorado population 97,385