quarry

noun (1)

quar·ry | \ ˈkwȯr-ē

How to pronounce quarry (audio)

, ˈkwär- \

plural quarries

Definition of quarry

(Entry 1 of 4)

1 : game specifically : game hunted with hawks

2 : one that is sought or pursued : prey

3 obsolete : a heap of the game killed in a hunt

quarry

noun (2)

plural quarries

Definition of quarry (Entry 2 of 4)

1 : an open excavation usually for obtaining building stone, slate, or limestone

2 : a rich source

quarry

verb

quarried; quarrying

Definition of quarry (Entry 3 of 4)

transitive verb

1 : to dig or take from or as if from a quarry quarry marble

2 : to make a quarry in quarry a hill

intransitive verb

: to delve in or as if in a quarry

quarry

noun (3)

plural quarries

Definition of quarry (Entry 4 of 4)

: a diamond-shaped pane of glass, stone, or tile

Examples of quarry in a Sentence

Verb an area where workers are quarrying for limestone

First Known Use of quarry

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1774, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (3)

1537, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for quarry

Noun (1)

Middle English quirre, querre entrails of game given to the hounds, from Anglo-French cureie, quereie, from quir, cuir skin, hide (on which the entrails were placed), from Latin corium — more at cuirass

Noun (2)

Middle English quarey, alteration of quarrere, from Anglo-French, from Vulgar Latin *quadraria, from Late Latin quadrus hewn (literally, squared) stone, from Latin quadrum square

Noun (3)

alteration of quarrel entry 1

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Cite this Entry

“Quarry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quarry. Accessed 5 Jul. 2022.

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More Definitions for quarry

quarry

noun

quar·ry | \ ˈkwȯr-ē

\

plural quarries

Kids Definition of quarry

(Entry 1 of 3)

: an animal or bird hunted as game or prey

quarry

noun

plural quarries

Kids Definition of quarry (Entry 2 of 3)

: an open pit usually for obtaining building stone, slate, or limestone

quarry

verb

quarried; quarrying

Kids Definition of quarry (Entry 3 of 3)

1 : to dig or take from or as if from a quarry Stone was quarried from the hillside.

2 : to make a quarry in A crew quarried a rocky slope.

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