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gravel Definition

gravel (grav′əl)

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.