plural quarries
plural quarries
1
: an open excavation usually for obtaining building stone, slate, or limestone
2
: a rich source
quarried; quarrying
1
: to dig or take from or as if from a quarry
quarry marble
2
: to make a quarry in
quarry a hill
: to delve in or as if in a quarry
Synonyms
Examples of quarry in a Sentence
Noun (1)
a hunter relentlessly tracking his quarry
Verb
an area where workers are quarrying for limestone
Recent Examples on the Web
Caitlin Looby, Journal Sentinel, 21 Sep. 2024
The site is near an ancient quarry, two burial caves and the remains of a Roman-era farmstead.
—Julia Binswanger, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 July 2024
Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 23 Oct. 2024
Later, while quarrying for stone to make wheels, Berbers cut an entrance through the other end of the rock, tapping into the natural cavern that extended more than 18 miles to the Sea of Gibraltar.
—Shoshi Parks, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for quarry 
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Noun
It was purchased in 1890 by brothers John and Alexander Laurie to tow vessels and barges, or scows filled with stone from nearby quarries, in Green Bay and Sturgeon Bay.
—Caitlin Looby, Journal Sentinel, 21 Sep. 2024
The site is near an ancient quarry, two burial caves and the remains of a Roman-era farmstead.
—Julia Binswanger, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 July 2024
Verb
Whereas quartz countertops are man-made, granite is a naturally occurring stone, quarried from the earth, then cut and polished into the countertop material so many know and love.
—Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 23 Oct. 2024
Later, while quarrying for stone to make wheels, Berbers cut an entrance through the other end of the rock, tapping into the natural cavern that extended more than 18 miles to the Sea of Gibraltar.
—Shoshi Parks, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for quarry
Dictionary Entries Near quarry
Cite this Entry
“Quarry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quarry. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
quarry
1 of 3 noun
quar·ry
ˈkwȯr-ē 
ˈkwär-
plural quarries
1
: an animal hunted as game or prey
2
: something sought or chased after
quarry
2 of 3 noun
plural quarries
: an open pit usually for obtaining building stone, slate, or limestone
quarry
3 of 3 verb
quarried; quarrying
1
: to dig or take from or as if from a quarry
2
: to make a quarry in
quarrier
noun
Etymology
Noun
Middle English querre "the part of a game animal given to the hounds," from early French cureie, quereie (same meaning), from cuir "skin, hide" (on which the animal parts were placed), from Latin corium (same meaning)
Noun
Middle English quarey, an altered form of quarrere "a place for digging stones for use in building," from Latin quadrus "hewn stone," literally, "squared stone," from Latin quadrum "a square"
Word Origin
The quarry a hunter chases is not related to the quarry that supplies building stones. The word for a hunter's quarry can be traced back to a ceremony that was once part of every successful hunt. The hounds used for chasing the game were rewarded after the kill by being allowed to eat part of the dead animal, which was given to them on a piece of hide. The French word for this hounds' share was cureie or quereie, which was borrowed into Middle English as querre. The word later came to be used for the live game animal itself. Now a quarry is anything that is pursued.
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