QUARRY Definition & Meaning

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quarry

[kwawr-ee, kwor-ee]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

plural

quarries

an excavation or pit, usually open to the air, from which building stone, slate, or the like, is obtained by cutting, blasting, etc.
an abundant source or supply.

verb (used with object)

quarried, quarrying

to obtain (stone) from or as if from a quarry.
to make a quarry in.

quarry

[kwawr-ee, kwor-ee]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

plural

quarries

an animal or bird hunted or pursued.
game, especially game hunted with hounds or hawks.
any object of search, pursuit, or attack.

quarry

[kwawr-ee, kwor-ee]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

plural

quarries

a square stone or tile.
quarrel.

quarry

/ ˈ��ɒ��ɪ /

noun

an open surface excavation for the extraction of building stone, slate, marble, etc, by drilling, blasting, or cutting
a copious source of something, esp information

verb

to extract (stone, slate, etc) from or as if from a quarry
(tr) to excavate a quarry in
to obtain (something, esp information) diligently and laboriously
he was quarrying away in the reference library

quarry

/ ˈ��ɒ��ɪ /

noun

a square or diamond shape
something having this shape
another word for quarrel 2

quarry

/ ˈ��ɒ��ɪ /

noun

an animal, bird, or fish that is hunted, esp by other animals; prey
anything pursued or hunted

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Other 51�Թ� Forms

quarriable adjective
quarryable adjective
unquarried adjective

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of quarry¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English noun quarrei, quarey, quar(r)i, from Medieval Latin quareia, quarrea, quareria, from Old French quarriere, from unrecorded Vulgar Latin ��ܲ�� “place where stone is squared,” derivative of Latin ��ܲ�� “to square”

Origin of quarry²

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English quirre, querre, quirrei “parts of a deer given to the hounds,” from Old French cuiree, cuiriee, curee “viscera, entrails” (probably influenced by cuir “leather, hide, skin”), from Latin corium “skin, hide, leather”), from Late Latin ��ǰ��ٲ� (plural) “entrails,” from cor “h�𲹰��”

Origin of quarry³

First recorded in 1535–45; noun use of obsolete adjective quarry “square,” from Old French quarre, from Latin ��ܲ��ٳܲ� quadrate

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of quarry¹

C15: from Old French quarriere, from quarre (unattested) square-shaped stone, from Latin ��ܲ�� to make square

Origin of quarry²

C16: from Old French ��ܲ��é; see _quarrel ²

Origin of quarry³

C14 quirre entrails offered to the hounds, from Old French ��ܾ��é�� what is placed on the hide, from cuir hide, from Latin corium leather; probably also influenced by Old French coree entrails, from Latin cor heart

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Marian's body was found in the early hours of the following day at the bottom of the nearby quarry, and the police opened a murder investigation.

From

A quarry in the Lake District, a beach in Pembrokshire, Wales and a nature reserve in Burnham were all also used as shooting locations.

From

Lyonne’s gravel quarry of a voice and hipster-hunched posture are the only cast regulars in a show that draws all the big names to play.

From

The scientists released their captive-bred animals at two sites - one in Xochimilco and one at a disused quarry that, over decades, has turned into what they called an "artificial wetland".

From

The land, part of a disused quarry once linked to the town's former steelworks, was identified as the ideal location due to strong local support.

From

quarrier quarry-faced

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