gravel
n. uncountablen. a mix of small, loose stones often used to make paths or roads. It feels rough and makes a crunching sound when you walk on it.
n. a loose aggregation of small water-worn or pounded stones and pebbles. Often used as a surfacing material for roads and pathways.
The car tires crunched loudly on the loose gravel.
We decided to lay down grey gravel in the garden to create a low-maintenance path between the flower beds.
The driveway was surfaced with crushed limestone gravel, which provided excellent drainage during the heavy autumn rains but required occasional raking to maintain an even level.
From Middle English gravel, grauel, from Old French gravele, diminutive of grave (“gravel, seashore”), from Medieval Latin grava, ultimately from Proto-Celtic grāwā (“gravel, pebbles”) (compare Breton groa, Cornish grow, Welsh gro), from Proto-Indo-European gʰroh₁weh₂, from *gʰreh₁w- (“to grind”). Compare also Old English græfa (“coal”).
Uncountable when referring to the material in bulk; occasionally countable in geological contexts to describe different types of stone deposits.