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graveyard

n.
US //ˈɡɹeɪvˌjɑɹd// UK //ɡɹˈeɪvjɑːd// grave·yard
  1. 1 burial ground (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    a place where dead people are buried, usually next to a church.

    an area of land, often adjacent to a church, designated for the burial of the dead.

    Example

    The old graveyard was filled with tall trees and stone monuments from the 1800s.

    Example

    The local historical society maintains the graveyard, ensuring that the weathered headstones remain legible for visiting researchers.
  2. 2 storage for old things (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    a place where old or broken things are kept because they are no longer used.

    a location used for the permanent storage or disposal of obsolete or decommissioned items.

    Example

    The field behind the factory became a graveyard for rusted old trucks.

    Example

    Environmental inspectors raised concerns about the aircraft graveyard, noting that hydraulic fluids were leaking from the abandoned fuselages into the soil.
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  1. 3 late-night shift (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    the time of night when most people are asleep and there is very little activity.

    the period of late night or early morning, typically between midnight and dawn, characterized by minimal activity.

    Example

    Working the graveyard shift can be difficult because it changes your sleep schedule.

    Example

    The hospital staff on the graveyard shift must remain vigilant despite the profound silence that settles over the wards after midnight.

    Usage

    Usually used as an adjective before 'shift'.
    • late night
    • third shift
  2. 4 mixed soda drink (n.)
    C2 Proficiency American English Slang

    a drink made by mixing every available flavor of soda together.

    a beverage created by combining all available soft drink varieties from a soda fountain.

    Example

    The kids at the party thought it was fun to make a graveyard at the soda machine.

    Example

    The teenager dared his friends to drink a graveyard, resulting in a sickly sweet concoction of cola, ginger ale, and fruit punch.

    Teacher's tip

    This is a very specific, informal term used mostly by children or teenagers in the US; it is not common in professional or formal settings.
Origin

From grave + yard. Compare West Frisian begraafplak (“graveyard”), Dutch begraafplaats (“graveyard”), Norwegian gravplass (“graveyard”).

Idioms1 entry

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