gravel

noun grav·el \ ˈgra-vəl \

Updated on: 19 Apr 2018

Definition of gravel

1 obsolete : sand

2 a : loose rounded fragments of rock

b : a stratum or deposit of gravel; also : a surface covered with gravel

a gravel road

3 : small calculi in the kidneys and urinary bladder

See gravel defined for English-language learners

See gravel defined for kids

Recent Examples of gravel from the Web

About half an hour later, Dana saw Sarah’s car scream up their gravel driveway.

— nina shapiro, The Seattle Times, "Who were the Harts, really? Mystery surrounds family that plunged off California cliff," 7 Apr. 2018
The three buildings -- the house, garage and double-height workshop -- are separate by grass and gravel.

— janet eastman, OregonLive.com, "Neglected, humble Woodstock cottage flips (before, during, after photos)," 6 Apr. 2018
During the storm, the gravel boat Sumatra rammed the Lake Street bridge, which failed to lift due to a heavy coating of ice and snow.

— tom skilling, chicagotribune.com, "Ask Tom: How snowy was it in early April 1938, city's snowiest April on record?," 6 Apr. 2018
That’s good news for Martin Marietta, a leading maker of construction supplies like concrete and gravel, and ranks among America’s biggest companies on the Fortune 500.

— susie gharib, Fortune, "Martin Marietta CEO Optimistic on Trump's Infrastructure Plan," 4 Apr. 2018
The conservation effort has replaced large portions of gravel irrigation ditches with pipes to cut down on leaks, restoring the flow of water in areas where the water was so low people could walk through it.

— joshua bowling, azcentral, "Farmers, Coca-Cola and conservationists: Unlikely partners fight drought along Verde River," 19 Mar. 2018
Come on a warm day and you’ll be greeted by the cows grazing in the field next to the gravel parking lot.

— erika owen, Bon Appetit, "The Wisconsin Cheese Curds That Heal My Homesickness," 5 Mar. 2018
In front of the house, the paved driveway was replaced with more sympathetic gravel.

— tim street-porter, latimes.com, "Architect William Pereira's 1957 Firestone House in Palm Springs has been newly restored," 27 Mar. 2018
The taste: This naturally fermented sparkling Gamay has a light and airy bouquet, but each sip packs a punch of savory cherries and ripe strawberries, with notes of wet gravel and a grenadine finish.

— emily eisen, Bon Appetit, "11 Natural Wines That Taste as Good as They Look," 26 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'gravel.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of gravel

Middle English, from Anglo-French gravele, diminutive of grave, greve river bank, stony ground

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

Other Geology Terms

anthracite, boulder, cwm, erratic, igneous, intrusive, mesa, sedimentary, silt, swale

gravel

verb

Definition of gravel

graveled or gravelled; graveling or gravelling play \ˈgrav-liŋ, ˈgra-və-\

transitive verb

1 : to cover or spread with gravel

2 a : perplex, confound

b : irritate, nettle

disappointed … and graveled him a good deal
—Mark Twain

Examples of gravel in a Sentence

managed to gravel his opponent in the debate by focusing on atypical examples

Recent Examples of gravel from the Web

For developers, Davis says, the upfront cost of the seeds and planting is offset in the long term by lower maintenance costs—no turf to mow or gravel erosion to manage.

— National Geographic, "Beekeepers Sweeten Solar Sites With the 'Tesla of Honey'," 24 June 2017

First Known Use of gravel

1543

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

gravel

adjective

Definition of gravel

: gravelly 2 —used of the human voice

Examples of gravel in a Sentence

after his bout with laryngitis, he had a terribly gravel voice

First Known Use of gravel

1939

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

gravel Synonyms

GRAVEL Defined for English Language Learners

gravel

noun

Definition of gravel for English Language Learners

: small pieces of rock

GRAVEL Defined for Kids

gravel

noun grav·el \ ˈgra-vəl \

Definition of gravel for Students

: small pieces of rock and pebbles larger than grains of sand

Medical Dictionary

gravel

noun grav·el \ ˈgrav-əl \

medical Definition of gravel

1 : a deposit of small calculous concretions in the kidneys and urinary bladder — compare microlith

2 : the condition that results from the presence of deposits of gravel

Learn More about gravel

See words that rhyme with gravel Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for gravel Spanish Central: Translation of gravel Nglish: Translation of gravel for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of gravel for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about gravel

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up gravel? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

gravel

Definition of gravel

Recent Examples of gravel from the Web

Origin and Etymology of gravel

Other Geology Terms

gravel

Definition of gravel

Examples of gravel in a Sentence

Recent Examples of gravel from the Web

First Known Use of gravel

gravel

Definition of gravel

Examples of gravel in a Sentence

First Known Use of gravel

gravel Synonyms

Synonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

GRAVEL Defined for English Language Learners

gravel

Definition of gravel for English Language Learners

GRAVEL Defined for Kids

gravel

Definition of gravel for Students

Medical Dictionary

gravel

medical Definition of gravel

Learn More about gravel

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

'Complement' vs. 'Compliment'

Trending: HRC: Media Opened Door to 'Charlatans'

Going Greek: 7 Words from the Greek Alphabet

Odd Habits and Quirks Quiz

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes