graveyard
graveyard Lexical Profile
graveyard Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A burial ground where dead people are buried, especially one situated next to a church.
"The old stone church was surrounded by a quiet graveyard shaded by ancient yew trees."
A place where unwanted, obsolete, or broken-down vehicles, machinery, or equipment are discarded or left to decay; figuratively, a situation where careers, ideas, or ambitions routinely fail.
"The desert airfield serves as a massive graveyard for decommissioned commercial aircraft."
Word Nuance & Usage
While often used interchangeably with 'cemetery', a 'graveyard' traditionally refers to a small burial ground attached to a church (a churchyard), whereas a 'cemetery' is typically a larger, standalone burial ground not affiliated with a church.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Formed in the 18th century as a compound of 'grave' (from Old English 'græf', meaning ditch or burial pit) and 'yard' (from Old English 'geard', meaning an enclosed space or courtyard).
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.