pavement

Everyday

1. In British English, a pavement is the path at the side of a road for people to walk on (in American English, the sidewalk; in Australia, often the footpath). tree →
2. In American English, pavement means the hard surface of a road. tree →

In the lessons

In road safety, walk on the pavement, not the road; stop at the kerb (curb), look and listen before crossing. Ride scooters carefully on the pavement and watch out for people. Tree roots can crack pavements. In stories rain shines on the pavement. Words differ across countries: UK pavement, US sidewalk, Australia and New Zealand footpath.

Examples

• Always walk on the pavement, not in the road. tree →
• Stop at the edge of the pavement before you cross. tree →
• Chalk drawings covered the pavement. tree →
• The pavement was icy, so we walked slowly. tree →
• Don't ride your bike on a crowded pavement. tree →
• In America, the pavement is called the sidewalk. tree →
• Tree roots had cracked the pavement. tree →
• "Mai--!" they said, as they were bumped upon the pavement. tree →

Note

Countable. A big trap: in the UK, «pavement» is for walking; in the USA, «pavement» is the road surface, and the walking path is «sidewalk». «Pave» = cover with flat stones or tarmac. The edge is the «kerb» (UK) or «curb» (US).

In Jewish tradition

In Sefer Yetzirah it is a hard covering laid like a floor. In Ezekiel it is the paved floor of the Temple's outer court, with chambers built on it.

Interpretation. Ezekiel's pavement is part of the vision of the future Temple, which the tradition reads as a plan to be built in a time of redemption.

Examples

• He covered them like a pavement, and poured upon tliein snort', and the earth was formed." (Mordell, The Origin of Letters and Numerals according to Sefer Yetzirah (1914)) tree →
• He covered them like a pavement, and poured upon them snow, and the earth was formed. (Mordell, The Origin of Letters and Numerals according to Sefer Yetzirah (1914)) tree →
• And the pavement was by the side of the gates, corresponding unto the length of the gates, even the lower pavement. (Prophets EZK.40.18, JPS 1917) tree →
• Then brought he me into the outer court, and, lo, there were chambers and a pavement, made for the court round about; thirty chambers were upon the pavement. (Prophets EZK.40.17, JPS 1917) tree →
• over against the twenty cubits which belonged to the inner court, and over against the pavement which belonged to the outer court; with gallery against gallery in three stories. (Prophets EZK.42.3, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Countable. A big trap: in the UK, «pavement» is for walking; in the USA, «pavement» is the road surface, and the walking path is «sidewalk». «Pave» = cover with flat stones or tarmac. The edge is the «kerb» (UK) or «curb» (US).