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gravel Definition

gravel (gravəl)

noun

  1. a loose mixture of pebbles and rock fragments coarser than sand, often mixed with clay, etc.
  2. Med. a deposit of small concretions that form in the kidneys or gallbladder and that may be retained, passed on to the urinary bladder, or passed from the body

Etymology: ME < OFr gravelle, dim. of grave, coarse sand, seashore < or akin to Gaul *grava, stone < IE base *ghreu-, to rub hard, pulverize > grit

transitive verb -·eled or -·elled, -·el·ing or -·el·ling

  1. to cover (a walk, driveway, etc.) with gravel
  2. to embarrass or perplex
  3. Informal to irritate or annoy

gravel Synonyms

gravel

n.

pebbles, rocks, shale, pea gravel, marl, macadam, screenings, crushed rock, sand, washings, alluvium, tailing.

gravel Usage Examples

Object

  • driveway: OUTSIDE FRONT GARDEN: With stone walls to front and graveled driveway with parking and turning for a number of vehicles.
  • courtyard: Outside there is a graveled courtyard which leads to a sunny spacious grassed garden with meadow views, perfect for a barbecue.
  • forecourt: TO THE OUTSIDE There is a flagged and graveled forecourt with on site parking space suitable for 2 vehicles.
  • patio: Patio doors lead out onto a very sheltered graveled patio beside a small walled terraced garden which leads up to the field beyond.

Converse of object

  • overlie: Most of the Parks lies on light soils overlying gravel, limiting the range of plant material which can be grown.
  • spawn: Spawning gravels were placed at the tail of the pool.
  • dredge: These lines lead to apparatus designed to fill wagons with the gravel dredged from the Thames.
  • rake: Water and landscape elements are symbolized by fifteen rocks set in raked gravel.

Adjective modifier

  • coarse: Secondly the soils are normally well graded giving a even spread of coarse gravel through to fine sands.
  • glacial: The pit also has glacial gravels at the top from the Pleistocene.
  • loose: A member who was cycling home from work, rode onto the grass at the side of the road to avoid some loose gravel.
  • sandy: What is the minimum depth of foundation in sandy gravel?

Modifies a noun

  • pit: Many of these old gravel pits have filled with water, leaving lakes next to the river.
  • extraction: The lake was formed by the flooding of a 64 acre gravel extraction site.
  • driveway: A gravel driveway leads past the rear of the cottages to a parking area to the side of which is a single garage.
  • trap: He later blamed his visit to the gravel trap on a missed gear.
  • quarry: We had lunch on the move and stopped by the gravel quarry before White Mills Lock.
  • path: The wide track now becomes a raised gravel path.

Noun used with modifier

  • pea: Pea gravel will gravitate to the bottom of the slope.
  • river: These are river bed gravels mixed with lime to give the mortar strength.