Home > Glossaries > Stone Glossary


A substance which releases hydrogen ions when dissolved in water. Most acids will dissolve the common metals and will react with a base to form a neutral salt and water. An acid is the opposite of an alkali, has a pH rating lower than 7.0, will turn litmus paper red, and has a sour taste.
The quantitative capacity of a water or water solution to neutralize an alkali or base. It is usually measured by titration with a standard solution of sodium hydroxide, and expressed in ppm or mg/L of its calcium carbonate equivalent.
Activated Silica
A negatively charged colloidal substance generally formed by combining a dilute sodium silicate solution with a dilute acidic solution (or other activant). Generally used as a coagulant aid.
Concerned with beauty or the appreciation of beauty.
A set of principles underlying and guiding the work of a particular artist or artistic movement.
A substance which creates a bitter taste and a slippery feel when dissolved in water and will turn red litmus paper blue. An alkali has a pH greater than seven and is the opposite of an acid. Highly alkaline waters tend to cause drying of the skin. Alkalis may include the soluble hydroxide, carbonate, and bicarbonate salts of calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium. A hydroxide alkali may also be called a base.
Ambient Lighting
Ambient lighting means that the general lighting in a room is diffused, so as to create a particular mood or atmosphere within the kitchen space.
Ambient Temperature
Temperature of the surrounding environment.
American National Standards Institute
Antique Finish
Apex Stone
Uppermost stone in a gable, pediment, vault or dome.
Architectural Symmetry
A slight, although measurable, chamfer where two surfaces meet.
A thin vertical aperture in a fortification through which an archer can launch arrows.
Plural of atrium.
Inner court of a Roman or C20 house; in a multi-story building, a toplit covered court rising through all stories.


A material which offers a water guard between the countertop and the wall.
A component of an adhesive composition that is primarily responsible for the adhesive forces that hold the two bodies together.
The copy of a room rendering that is drawn to scale; including the dimensions and configuration of a floor space.
Bridge Cabinet
A bridge cabinet is a kitchen cabinet that is placed does not need to be used on a daily basis. It can often be found above the refrigerator or a stove and stores items that are needed less frequently.
A chemical which causes a solution to resist changes in pH, or to shift the pH to a specific value.
A specific style of edge treatment used on countertops.
Butcher Block
A wooden countertop used for cooking and cutting. It is typically made of a hardwood, such as oak or maple.


Cabinet Scraper
A rectangular piece of steel that has been rounded into a hook used to remove shavings and to bring finishes to a high gloss without damaging the wood of a kitchen cabinet.
Cam And Bolt
A structure that connects the sides and top of a kitchen cabinet to the bottom of the cabinet.
A projecting roof structure that shelters an entrance.
When a supporting element in construction extends beyond the element that it is supporting.
COncealed Cabinet Hinge
A hinge that is invisible from the outside of a kitchen cabinet, especially when the cabinet door is closed.
The projecting moldings that form the top band of an entablature or wall.
Crown Molding
Decorative borders along kitchen cabinetry.


A small structure that projects from a sloping roof, with a window in the facade face.
Drain Board
Depressions in a countertop which allows water to run into the sink.
Drop-in Sink
A sink that features a rim that fits over the countertop; holding it in place.


The projecting overhang at the lower edge of the roof.
Edge Treatment
Treating the edges of countertops so they are shaped in a particular way, such as rounding them.


The exterior faces of a building, often used to refer to the wall in which the building entry is located.
Fluted Rail
An ornamental moulding used to highlight the space between kitchen cabinets.


An expression referring to exposed cabinet ends.
Glue Gun
A device used to dispense adhesives (single or bi-component) onto a material so it can be bonded to another surface.


Hip Roof
A roof type of which all sides slope downward from the ridge to the eaves.


Integral Sink
A sink that is built directly into the countertop or other surface and that is constructed out of the same material as the surface.


Metamorphic Rock


NSF International was formerly known as the National Sanitation Foundation. It is a not for profit organization that provides public health and safety safety risk management solutions.


Particle Sintering Technology
A process that sinters mineral particles so that they link up and change their internal structure.
Edge treatments applied to stone surfaces for adding style.




UL (Underwriters Laboratories)
An organization primarily dedicated to product safety that develops safety standards dealing with design, electrical, materials, components, and manufacturing.