English questions

[zompist]

"Rock" implies raw material that is unpolished, unworn, uncut. Individual stones are worn down, typically by water, whereas a "rock" does imply a rough piece of material. When you say something is made out of "stone", you imply that it is cut, and something like a "stone" countertop is normally polished. When you say that something is made out of "rock" you strongly imply that it is raw material from the earth.

I agree that rocks go with rough, natural, and big. But stones can be natural (uncut)-- e.g. stones worn smooth by water.

I think you actually repeated what I said about stones.

I was reacting to "When you say something is made out of "stone", you imply that it is cut", which I think is misleading.

FWIW, just because language is confusing, there are things called rock walls, or rock retaining walls.

[Travis B.]

I agree that rocks go with rough, natural, and big. But stones can be natural (uncut)-- e.g. stones worn smooth by water.

I think you actually repeated what I said about stones.

I was reacting to "When you say something is made out of "stone", you imply that it is cut", which I think is misleading.

That is a function of how the same noun may have different meanings when used as a count noun versus a mass noun.

FWIW, just because language is confusing, there are things called rock walls, or rock retaining walls.

That is true, but I would expect the pieces that make up a "stone wall" to be more finely cut or worn down than those that make up a "rock wall".

That said, "rock climbing walls" need not contain any rock material at all.