as in pile
a small quantity of stones heaped together that usually marks a place
A cairn of loose stones marked the site.
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Recent Examples of cairn
Most of what remains of the historic General Crook Trail are eroding two tracks, toppled rock cairns, tree blazes, a few telegraph insulators and roadside monuments.
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Mare Czinar, The Arizona Republic, 18 Apr. 2024
Last year alone, vandals sprayed red paint on trees, rocks and cairns at Acadia National Park; smashed windows and kicked in doors at Mammoth Cave National Park; and damaged the historic church at San Antonio Missions National Historical Park.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Apr. 2024
Narrow passages lead into these cairns, which hold several tombs.
—Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 27 Mar. 2024
According to the park service, cairns are most commonly used to designate hiking routes.
—Alexandra E. Petri, Los Angeles Times, 19 July 2023
See all Example Sentences for cairn 
Mare Czinar, The Arizona Republic, 18 Apr. 2024
Last year alone, vandals sprayed red paint on trees, rocks and cairns at Acadia National Park; smashed windows and kicked in doors at Mammoth Cave National Park; and damaged the historic church at San Antonio Missions National Historical Park.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Apr. 2024
Narrow passages lead into these cairns, which hold several tombs.
—Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 27 Mar. 2024
According to the park service, cairns are most commonly used to designate hiking routes.
—Alexandra E. Petri, Los Angeles Times, 19 July 2023
See all Example Sentences for cairn
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cairn
Noun
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Large numbers of new people coming into the home and descending on piles of food and Christmas decorations easily trigger anxious dogs − and worst-case scenario, someone could get bit or your dog could eat something dangerous.Claire Thornton, USA TODAY, 20 Dec. 2024
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Against another wall is a ceiling-high pile of sacks filled with white powder.Greg Myre, NPR, 19 Dec. 2024
Noun
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While any team could make room for Burnes on their roster, the Red Sox don't have a pressing need on the mound after adding Buehler and Garrett Crochet.Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 23 Dec. 2024
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My fellow Big Mac skeptic Victoria and I felt the Double Big Mac was overpowering with its puddle of Big Mac sauce and mound of beef patties, resulting in our below-average ratings of 1/5 and 2.5/5, respectively.Grace Tucker, The Enquirer, 17 Dec. 2024
Noun
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By stepping away from the kitchen, people are finding new ways to connect and celebrate—whether that's over dim sum, a short stack of pancakes, or a dive bar burger.Stephanie Gravalese, Forbes, 24 Dec. 2024
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Teeny was the first to get a flame and built their stack with coaching from Rachel while Sam initially came up empty.Dalton Ross, EW.com, 19 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Sitting in ancient Cumbria—the Lake District is a mighty UNESCO World Heritage Site drawing over 18 million visitors each year, home to the largest national park in England, covering over 880 square miles of terrain with towering mountains, serene lakes, and lush forests.Lewis Nunn, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024
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Western Siskiyou County is similarly advised, while those in the West Slope Northern Sierra Nevada mountains and Western Plumas County and Lassen Park County should also take care.Raja Krishnamoorthi, Newsweek, 16 Dec. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Cairn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cairn. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.
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