gravel

Gravel isn't quite sand, and it's definitely not boulders—it falls somewhere in between. Think of those small, loose stones that make up a driveway or a walking path. You might crunch across gravel on a country lane or find it used to help water drain around a house. It often comes from larger rocks being broken down over time by water and weather.

Gravel is not just something underfoot, though. The word also appears in related forms like "gravelly voice," which means a rough, raspy sound. As a verb, "to gravel" can mean to cover a surface with these small stones. In older or literary English, it can also mean to confuse or trouble someone.

Gravel refers to small, loose rock fragments, usually larger than sand but smaller than big stones. In geology, the pieces are often said to be about 2 to 64 millimeters wide. It can form naturally when larger rocks are worn down by water and weather, or it can be made by crushing stone. You will often see it used on roads, driveways, paths, and in gardens. If you walk along a riverbank, the small rounded stones under your feet are often natural gravel.

Beyond its appearance, gravel is also useful in building and drainage. Because water can pass through the spaces between the stones, it is often placed under foundations, around pipes, or near walls to help with stability and to stop water from collecting.

The word is also used as a verb. To gravel a road, path, or yard means to spread this stony material over the surface. There is another, older sense too: to gravel someone can mean to make them feel confused, stuck, or unsure how to answer. That use is much less common today, but you may still see it in older writing. A related adjective, "gravelly," usually describes a voice that sounds rough and raspy. So the word can point to a physical material, an action, or, in older English, a feeling of being puzzled.