pebble

1 of 2

noun

peb·​ble ˈpe-bəl 

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

ˈpe-b(ə-)lē 

adjective

pebble

2 of 2

verb

pebbled; pebbling ˈpe-b(ə-)liŋ 

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

Use a humidifier to increase humidity in your home, or place the pot on a tray of pebbles and water to raise the humidity level around the plant. —Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 21 Oct. 2025

Gökçen Kurtuluş Öztaşkın, a professor at Pamukkale University in Turkey, told AA that archaeologists also found a Byzantine church with mosaics made of pebbles during their excavation of Olympus, as well as ancient cemeteries and houses. —Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2025

Verb

An array of 14 library accessories made from premium materials like walnut wood, pebbled leather and brass, they were designed in collaboration with French designer Pierre Favresse, and influenced by the Assouline family’s most cherished items and cultural roots. —Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 3 Oct. 2025

The beach itself is pebbled, classic Sicily, with crystalline water. —Erica Firpo, AFAR Media, 8 Sep. 2025

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

Rhymes for pebble

• jebel
• nebel
• rebel
• treble
• jezebel

Kids Definition

pebble

1 of 2 noun

peb·​ble ˈpeb-əl 

1

: a small rounded stone

2

: an uneven, wrinkled, or grainy surface

pebblelike

-əl-ˌ(l)īk

adjective

pebbly

-(ə-)lē 

adjective

pebble

2 of 2 verb

pebbled; pebbling ˈpeb-(ə-)liŋ 

: to produce an uneven, wrinkled, or grainy surface on