paved
adj. · v.-
1 covered with a hard surface (adj.) B1 Intermediatecovered with a hard, flat surface like stone, concrete, or asphalt.
covered with a durable, man-made surface such as pavement, asphalt, or stone slabs.
ExampleThe paved road was much easier to cycle on than the muddy path.
ExampleThe city council prioritised the maintenance of paved walkways in the historic district to ensure pedestrian safety during the winter months.
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2 past action of covering a surface (v.) B2 Upper Intermediatethe past tense of 'pave', meaning you covered a path with a hard material.
the past tense and past participle of the transitive verb 'pave', referring to the act of laying a hard surface.
ExampleThey paved the driveway last summer to stop the car from getting stuck in the mud.
ExampleAfter the utility company finished the repairs, they paved the section of the street they had excavated to restore the original traffic flow.
- dug up
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3 to prepare the way (v.) B2 Upper Intermediateused in the phrase 'paved the way' to mean making it easier for something to happen later.
used figuratively in the idiom 'pave the way' to describe the act of creating circumstances that allow for future developments.
ExampleHer hard work paved the way for other women to join the company.
ExampleThe success of the initial pilot programme paved the way for a nationwide rollout of the new educational software.
From Middle English paved, ypavyd, equivalent to pave + -ed.