gravel
gravel — noun
1. very small, smooth pieces of rock that are often combined with sand and used to
very small, smooth pieces of rock that are often combined with sand and used to create hard surfaces for paths, roads, and driveways
The gardener spread gravel over the path to keep it dry in winter.
collocation: spread gravel / a layer of gravel
Kwame's driveway was made of loose gravel that crunched under the car tyres.
collocation: loose gravel
A thick bed of gravel was laid beneath the railway tracks for drainage.
Iris filled the gaps between the paving stones with fine gravel to prevent weeds.
The construction crew ordered another truckload of gravel for the building foundations.
文法句型
uncountable noun
用法筆記
Gravel is an uncountable noun, so you cannot say 'a gravel' or 'two gravels'. Use 'some gravel', 'a load of gravel', or 'a layer of gravel' instead.
常見錯誤
gravel — verb
1. to cover a surface such as a path, driveway, or road with a layer of gravel
to cover a surface such as a path, driveway, or road with a layer of gravel
The council hired a team to gravel the footpath that runs through the park.
transitive: gravel + [surface]
Élise's grandfather used to gravel the driveway himself every few years.
The old dirt track was gravelled and became passable even after heavy rain.
Last spring the ground beside the house was gravelled to make a patio area.
文法句型
gravel + noun phrase (surface)
用法筆記
Frequently used in the passive form ('be gravelled') when describing the result rather than the action. The past tense is spelled 'gravelled' in British English and 'graveled' in American English.
2. to cause someone to feel completely confused or unable to understand or explain
to cause someone to feel completely confused or unable to understand or explain something
The philosopher's unexpected reply graveled his students, who sat in puzzled silence.
literary sense: gravel + person with an unexpected statement
Quan was graveled by the riddle and could find no answer that satisfied him.
passive: be graveled by [something puzzling]
Hui's sudden change of plan graveled the committee, who had prepared for a different outcome.
The strange symbol carved into the old door graveled everyone who saw it.
文法句型
gravel + person
be graveled by/at + noun phrase
用法筆記
This sense is now archaic or literary. In modern English, 'perplex', 'confound', or 'baffle' are far more common. You are most likely to encounter it in older novels or formal essays from the 18th to early 20th centuries.
3. to annoy or irritate someone, especially by means of small, repeated behaviour
to annoy or irritate someone, especially by means of small, repeated behaviour
It gravels me when people talk loudly on their phones in the quiet train carriage.
informal British: it gravels me when...
Clara said her constant pen tapping on the desk graveled her during the meeting.
Felix knew it would gravel his brother if he arrived late on purpose.
It gravels our teacher when we hand in homework with coffee stains on it.
文法句型
it gravels + person + that/when clause
gravel + person (direct object)
用法筆記
Chiefly British informal and now somewhat dated. It tends to describe minor, cumulative irritation rather than serious anger. The construction 'it gravels me that...' is the most typical pattern.