quarry
KWOR-ee
Quarry (noun) means a large open pit where stone, sand, or similar material is dug out of the ground. Example: “The old quarry is now filled with water and used for swimming.”
noun
1
A large open pit where stone, sand, or similar material is dug out of the ground.
"The old quarry is now filled with water and used for swimming."
"Marble for the statue was cut from a quarry in Italy."
2
An animal or person being hunted or pursued.
"The hawk circled above its quarry."
"The detective's quarry had already slipped out of the city."
verb
1
To dig stone or other material out of the ground.
"Workers quarried granite here for over a century."
"The company quarries limestone for cement production."
How to use quarry
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a stone-digging pit, or prey being chased — context makes clear which.
Common pairings
stone quarry
disused quarry
quarry workers
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Word forms
- Plural
- quarries
- Third person singular
- quarries
- Past tense
- quarried
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The old _____ is now filled with water and used for swimming.
Etymology
The stone-pit sense traces to Latin quadrare, "to square" (referring to squared-off blocks of stone); the hunted-animal sense comes from a separate Old French word for the parts of a kill fed to hunting dogs.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for quarry
See all rhymes for quarry →Frequently asked questions
What does “quarry” mean?
The word “quarry” means a large open pit where stone, sand, or similar material is dug out of the ground. In plain terms, either a stone-digging pit, or prey being chased — context makes clear which.
How do you pronounce “quarry”?
“Quarry” is pronounced KWOR-ee (/ˈk(w)ɔɹ.i/ in IPA).
How do you use “quarry” in a sentence?
Here is “quarry” used in a sentence: “The old quarry is now filled with water and used for swimming.”
What is another word for “quarry”?
Words with a similar meaning to “quarry” include mark, prey and target.
What part of speech is “quarry”?
Depending on how it is used, “quarry” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “quarry” come from?
The word “quarry” comes from Latin. The stone-pit sense traces to Latin quadrare, "to square" (referring to squared-off blocks of stone); the hunted-animal sense comes from a separate Old French word for the parts of a kill fed to hunting dogs.
Is “quarry” a common word?
“Quarry” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
How many meanings does “quarry” have?
“Quarry” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a large open pit where stone, sand, or similar material is dug out of the ground.
What is the difference between a quarry and a mine?
A quarry is an open pit dug into the ground to extract materials like stone or sand, while a mine typically involves tunnels dug underground to extract minerals, ores, or coal. Quarrying is generally surface-level work, whereas mining often goes below the surface.
Why does quarry also mean a hunted animal or person?
This sense of quarry comes from hunting, where it describes the animal or person being pursued or tracked. It is a separate meaning from the excavation site, though both uses share the idea of something being extracted or pursued with effort.
Can quarry be used as a verb?
Yes, quarry can be used as a verb meaning to dig stone or other material out of the ground, as in 'the company quarries granite from this site.'
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