gravel

Everyday

1. Lots of small stones and bits of rock, used for paths, driveways and roads, or found in rivers. tree →
2. (gravelly, of a voice) Low and rough-sounding. tree →

In the lessons

In geography and science: gravel is made when rocks are broken by water and weather; it lets water drain through, so it is used under paths and in fish tanks. In safety: bikes can skid on loose gravel. Phrases: «a gravel path», «gravel road», «crunch on the gravel».

Examples

• The car crunched over the gravel driveway. tree →
• We put gravel at the bottom of the fish tank. tree →
• I fell off my bike on the loose gravel. tree →
• The river bed was covered with gravel. tree →
• Gravel lets rainwater drain away. tree →
• The old farm road is just gravel, not tarmac. tree →
• So he trotted off to the gravel path near the house, and sat down to think. tree →

Note

Uncountable: «some gravel», «a bag of gravel», not «a gravel». A single piece is a stone or pebble. Adjective: gravelly (a gravelly voice). Gravel is bigger than sand and smaller than pebbles.

In Jewish tradition

Small stones. Proverbs says dishonest gain turns to gravel in the mouth, and Lamentations speaks of teeth broken on it.

Interpretation. Tradition reads the proverb as warning that cheating may taste sweet but ends in bitterness. Lamentations uses the picture to show the pain of exile.

Examples

• Bread of falsehood is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel. (Writings PRO.20.17, JPS 1917) tree →
• He hath also broken my teeth with gravel stones, He hath made me to wallow in ashes. (Writings LAM.3.16, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Uncountable: «some gravel», «a bag of gravel», not «a gravel». A single piece is a stone or pebble. Adjective: gravelly (a gravelly voice). Gravel is bigger than sand and smaller than pebbles.