gravel

1 of 3

noun

grav·​el ˈgra-vəl How to pronounce gravel (audio)
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

gravel

2 of 3

verb

graveled or gravelled; graveling or gravelling ˈgra-v(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce gravel (audio)

transitive verb

1
: to cover or spread with gravel
2
b
: irritate, nettle
disappointed … and graveled him a good dealMark Twain

gravel

3 of 3

adjective

: gravelly sense 2
used of the human voice

Examples of gravel in a Sentence

Verb managed to gravel his opponent in the debate by focusing on atypical examples Adjective after his bout with laryngitis, he had a terribly gravel voice
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The Paganelli law firm is the same firm that successfully reversed the Noblesville Zoning Board of Appeals approval of a gravel pit operation. John Tuohy, The Indianapolis Star, 20 Nov. 2024 Overflow parking in the gravel lot (6431 Railroad Ave.). Gege Reed, The Courier-Journal, 20 Nov. 2024
Verb
The road eventually turns to gravel before reaching the trailhead with parking along the road. Katie Linsky Shaw, Southern Living, 6 Sep. 2024 Some 350 miles of trail weave through the area, varying from paved to gravel, and include notable elevation gain and loss otherwise hard to come by in Chicago. Outside Online, 11 June 2024
Adjective
Every Tuesday evening cyclists depart downtown at 5 P.M. and the pace ramps up to eye-popping speeds as the peloton spins along the paved and gravel roads outside town. Frederick Dreier, Outside Online, 24 July 2024 My gravel bike is a Trek Checkpoint ALR 5, which weighs about 25 lb, so the extra 7 pounds on the Turbo Creo 2 Comp didn't seem like a big deal. Eric Bangeman, Ars Technica, 18 Dec. 2023 See all Example Sentences for gravel 

Word History

Etymology

Noun

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

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1543, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1939, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gravel was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near gravel

Cite this Entry

“Gravel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gravel. Accessed 4 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

gravel

1 of 3 noun
grav·​el ˈgrav-əl How to pronounce gravel (audio)
: small pieces of rock and pebbles larger than grains of sand

gravel

2 of 3 adjective

gravel

3 of 3 verb
graveled or gravelled; graveling or gravelling
ˈgrav-(ə-)liŋ
: to cover or spread with gravel

Medical Definition

gravel

noun
grav·​el ˈgrav-əl How to pronounce gravel (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on gravel

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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