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

UConn is used to being the boulder, of mowing down anyone and everyone unfortunate enough to be in its path. —Brendan Marks, The Athletic, 22 Mar. 2025

Designed by Javier Barba, the home has a new owner who is reimagining a second life for the Spanish jewel Photography by Salva López March 15, 2025 The existing granite boulders on the site were part of the home’s final design, creating a facade of broken concrete and gravel. —Noelia Terrón-Laya, Architectural Digest, 15 Mar. 2025

Initial sketches suggest a bridge assembled with enormous, jutting boulders. —Miles Socha, WWD, 13 Mar. 2025

The footprints were likely imprinted onto the boulder as the dinosaurs passed across a patch of wet, white clay, possibly walking along or crossing a waterway during the Early Jurassic period, about 200 million years ago, Romilio said. —Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 13 Mar. 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