gravel
gravel — 名詞
1. very small, smooth pieces of rock that are often combined with sand and used to
礫石
小圓石，常用於鋪路
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.
園丁在路上鋪了一層礫石，讓冬天路面保持乾燥。
collocation: spread gravel / a layer of gravel
Kwame's driveway was made of loose gravel that crunched under the car tyres.
Kwame 的車道鋪的是鬆散的礫石，車子開過去時會發出嘎吱聲。
collocation: loose gravel
A thick bed of gravel was laid beneath the railway tracks for drainage.
鐵軌底下鋪了一層厚厚的礫石，用來排水。
Iris filled the gaps between the paving stones with fine gravel to prevent weeds.
Iris 用細礫石填滿鋪路石之間的縫隙來防止雜草。
The construction crew ordered another truckload of gravel for the building foundations.
建築團隊又訂了一卡車的礫石用來鋪地基。
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 — 動詞
1. to cover a surface such as a path, driveway, or road with a layer of gravel
鋪礫石
在路面鋪上礫石
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.
市議會僱了一組工人，在公園裡的小徑上鋪礫石。
transitive: gravel + [surface]
Élise's grandfather used to gravel the driveway himself every few years.
Élise 的爺爺每隔幾年就會自己動手鋪車道的礫石。
The old dirt track was gravelled and became passable even after heavy rain.
那條舊泥路鋪上了礫石之後，就算下大雨也好走多了。
Last spring the ground beside the house was gravelled to make a patio area.
去年春天，房子旁邊的地鋪上了礫石，變成了一個露臺區。
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
使困惑
讓人無法理解、迷惑
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.
那位哲學家出人意料的回答讓學生們困惑不已，坐在那裡鴉雀無聲。
literary sense: gravel + person with an unexpected statement
Quan was graveled by the riddle and could find no answer that satisfied him.
Quan 被那個謎語給難倒了，怎麼也想不出滿意的答案。
passive: be graveled by [something puzzling]
Hui's sudden change of plan graveled the committee, who had prepared for a different outcome.
Hui 突然改變計畫，讓整個委員會陷入困惑——他們原本準備的完全是另一套方案。
The strange symbol carved into the old door graveled everyone who saw it.
那扇老門上刻的奇怪符號，讓每個看到的人都感到困惑不解。
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
惹惱
因小事而煩擾
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.
有人在安靜的火車車廂裡大聲講電話，這點讓我很惱火。
informal British: it gravels me when...
Clara said her constant pen tapping on the desk graveled her during the meeting.
Clara 說她開會時一直用筆敲桌子，讓她心煩意亂。
Felix knew it would gravel his brother if he arrived late on purpose.
Felix 知道故意遲到會惹他哥哥不高興。
It gravels our teacher when we hand in homework with coffee stains on it.
我們交的作業上有咖啡漬，這點讓老師很不高興。
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.