pebble

1 of 2

noun

peb·​ble ˈpe-bəl How to pronounce pebble (audio)
1
: a small usually rounded stone especially when worn by the action of water
2
: transparent and colorless quartz : rock crystal
3
: an irregular, crinkled, or grainy surface
pebbly adjective

pebble

2 of 2

verb

pebbled; pebbling ˈpe-b(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce pebble (audio)

transitive verb

1
: to pelt with pebbles
2
: to pave or cover with pebbles or something resembling pebbles
3
: to grain (a material, such as leather) so as to produce a rough and irregularly indented surface

Examples of pebble in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
But when scientists finally were able to get a glimpse of what its OSIRIS-REx craft hauled back, they were stunned: the 121.6 grams (4.3 ounces) of dust and pebbles collected from Bennu represents the biggest cosmic sample collection ever from beyond the moon. Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 3 Mar. 2024 The smoothness and fluidity of stones and pebbles are reflected in the streamlined shapes onboard, for example. Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 28 Feb. 2024 But most, says Hummels, are somewhere between the size of a grain of sand and a small pebble. Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 12 Feb. 2024 Not all succulents grown as houseplants can tolerate direct sunlight, but living pebbles prefers it. Andrea Beck, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Feb. 2024 Other options include pebbles and crushed abalone shells. Angie Hicks, Miami Herald, 31 Jan. 2024 Avoid this by setting your plants on a saucer or plate with pebbles and water, so that a little mist rises as the water evaporates. Nancy Brachey, Charlotte Observer, 30 Jan. 2024 Scientists just opened the lid to NASA’s asteroid sample canister NASA flew a rocket up to an asteroid, scraped some dust and pebbles off the surface, put it in a jar, and dropped it off in Utah. Eric Bangeman, Ars Technica, 25 Dec. 2023 Jurors indicated their verdict by dropping either a marked or unmarked pebble into an urn, which protected them against violence by keeping their decision secret. Amanda Foreman, WSJ, 4 Jan. 2024
Verb
The brand’s signature pebbled Flou Bubble Jacquard is here in a number of beautiful dresses, in a palette of navy, black, burgundy, ivory and lilac, along with gorgeous trouser suits in black or white. Joanne Shurvell, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024 The oblong bars, coated in dark or milk chocolate and pebbled with almonds, have centers of ganachelike filling riddled with pieces of buttery toffee. Florence Fabricant, New York Times, 20 Sep. 2023 The serviceware is still pure pizza-parlor kitsch: pebbled plastic water glasses, checkerboard wooden salad bowls, and not a piece of porcelain in sight. Helen Rosner, The New Yorker, 27 Aug. 2023 The sustainably sourced, Argentinian pebbled leather is certified by the Leather Working Group, which means that it’s tanned in an environmentally responsible way. Quincy Bulin, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Sep. 2023 The bags come in various colorways including teal snake skin, bubble gum pink, and pebbled gray leather. Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 25 Aug. 2023 Rubber soles provide an additional level of cushion, flexibility, and comfort, and are constructed in such a way that pebbles and rocks don’t easily get stuck. Todd Plummer, Travel + Leisure, 28 Apr. 2023 The polyester pebbled linen-weave cover is available in light linen, fog grey, or dark charcoal. Erica Reagle, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Feb. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pebble.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English pobble, from Old English papolstān, from papol- (of unknown origin) + stān stone

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1605, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pebble was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near pebble

Cite this Entry

“Pebble.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pebble. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

pebble

1 of 2 noun
peb·​ble ˈpeb-əl How to pronounce pebble (audio)
1
: a small rounded stone
2
: an uneven, wrinkled, or grainy surface
pebblelike
-əl-ˌ(l)īk
adjective
pebbly adjective

pebble

2 of 2 verb
pebbled; pebbling ˈpeb-(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce pebble (audio)
: to produce an uneven, wrinkled, or grainy surface on

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