quarry

Everyday

1. A quarry is a big open hole in the ground where people dig or cut out stone, sand or rock for building. tree →
2. Quarry is also an animal or person that is being hunted or chased. tree →
3. To quarry is to dig stone or rock out of the ground. tree →

In the lessons

In geography and science, quarries show where building stone like granite, slate and limestone comes from. In safety lessons, children learn that old quarries full of water are dangerous places to swim. In stories, «the quarry» is the one being hunted, like a fox chased by hounds.

Examples

• Big trucks carried rocks out of the quarry. tree →
• The old quarry filled with deep, freezing water. tree →
• Never swim in a quarry because the water is very cold and deep. tree →
• The church was built with stone from a nearby quarry. tree →
• The hawk swooped down on its quarry. tree →
• The detective finally caught up with his quarry. tree →
• Workers quarried slate from the hillside. tree →
• We could hear blasting from the quarry. tree →
• Quarry some stones with those great swords of yours, and help me to build a city." tree →

Note

Plural: quarries (y changes to ies). Past form: quarried. The two noun senses come from different old words, so they are not linked in meaning. Quarry swimming is a real danger: the water is much colder and deeper than it looks.

In Jewish tradition

In Judges the quarries are stone pits near Gilgal that Ehud passed on his way. In Kings the Temple stones were cut ready at the quarry.

Interpretation. The Temple was built without the sound of iron tools. The tradition says iron makes weapons that shorten life, while the altar lengthens it, so iron must not touch the stones.

Examples

• And Ehud escaped while they lingered, having passed beyond the quarries, and escaped unto Seirah. (Prophets JDG.3.26, JPS 1917) tree →
• But he himself turned back from the quarries that were by Gilgal, and said: 'I have a secret errand unto thee, O king.' And he said: 'Keep silence.' And all that stood by him went out from him. (Prophets JDG.3.19, JPS 1917) tree →
• For the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready at the quarry; and there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building. — (Prophets 1KI.6.7, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Plural: quarries (y changes to ies). Past form: quarried. The two noun senses come from different old words, so they are not linked in meaning. Quarry swimming is a real danger: the water is much colder and deeper than it looks.