Word
pebble
Phoneticspeb·ble, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈpɛbəɫ/
UK/pˈɛbəl/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a small, smooth stone that has been shaped by water or wind. You often find them on beaches or at the bottom of rivers.
n. a small, smooth, rounded stone, typically between 4 and 64 millimetres in diameter. Often shaped by the abrasive action of water in fluvial or coastal environments.
Examples
“The child threw a small pebble into the lake.”
“The beach was covered in smooth grey pebbles that rattled every time a wave pulled back into the sea.”
“Geologists can determine the history of a riverbed by examining the composition and roundness of the pebbles found within the sediment layers.”
Examples
simple
“The child threw a small pebble into the lake.”
contextual
“The beach was covered in smooth grey pebbles that rattled every time a wave pulled back into the sea.”
complex
“Geologists can determine the history of a riverbed by examining the composition and roundness of the pebbles found within the sediment layers.”
Usage
Commonly used in the plural when describing terrain or surfaces.
Etymology
From Middle English pibel (also in pibleston), from Old English papolstān (“pebble-stone”), from Old English papol, pyppel, *pæbbel of unknown origin + Old English stān. Compare Albanian popël.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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