Gravel

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ævÉ™l

Origin

From Middle English, from Old French gravele, diminutive of grave ("gravel", "seashore").

Full definition of gravel

Noun

1. (uncountable) Small fragments of rock, used for laying on the beds of roads and railroads, and as ballast.
2. A type or grade of small rocks, differentiated by mineral type, size range, or other characteristics.
3. (uncountable, geology) A particle from 2 to 64 mm in diameter, following the Wentworth scale
4. (uncountable, archaic) Kidney stones; a deposit of small calculous concretions in the kidneys and the urinary or gall bladder; also, the disease of which they are a symptom.

Synonyms

• (calculus deposit) stones, gallstones

Verb

1. (transitive) To apply a layer of gravel to the surface of a road, etc.
• 1905, John F. Hume, The Abolitionists Chapter , We kept quietly on our way until we reached a place in the road that had been freshly graveled, and where the surface was covered with stones just suited to our use.
• 2006, May 5, Harold Henderson, Snips, The soldiers admitted that while they had the money to lay gravel on a particular road, they lacked the funds to pave it, even though all agreed that graveled roads offered easy concealment for IEDs.
2. To puzzle or annoy
• 1894, Anthony Hope, Dolly Dialogues Chapter , "The fracture is your making; the pin--" Here Miss Dolly interrupted; to tell the truth I was not sorry, for I was fairly graveled for the meaning of the pin.
• 1919, Christopher Darlington Morley, Mince Pie Chapter , 'Oh, yes,' says Jan. Pond was graveled; didn't know just what to do.
• 1922, Herbert Quick, Vandemark's Folly Chapter , It graveled me like sixty to pay such a price, but I had to do it because the season was just between hay and grass.
3. To run (as a ship) upon the gravel or beach; to run aground; to cause to stick fast in gravel or sand.
• Bible, Acts xxvii. 41 (Rhemish version)When we were fallen into a place between two seas, they gravelled the ship.
• CamdenWillam the Conqueror ... chanced as his arrival to be gravelled; and one of his feet stuck so fast in the sand that he fell to the ground.
4. To check or stop; to embarrass; to perplex.
• ShakespeareWhen you were gravelled for lack of matter.
• Sir T. NorthThe physician was so gravelled and amazed withal, that he had not a word more to say.
5. To hurt or lame (a horse) by gravel lodged between the shoe and foot.

Usage notes

In North American English, the forms graveled and graveling are more common.