Pave: meaning, definitions and examples

Use when talking about making a road, path, or other surfaces smooth and suitable for travel by laying down materials like asphalt, concrete, or stones.

• They decided to pave the driveway to make it easier to drive on.
• The new road through the village was paved last summer.

Use when referring to providing or finishing an outer layer of an object or area. It generally focuses on the top layer and can be less specific in terms of the material used.

• The wooden table was surfaced with a smooth, glossy varnish.
• They surfaced the playground with rubber mats to make it safer for children.

Employ when discussing placing something over an area to protect, hide, or enclose it. It has a more general context and can refer to different materials and purposes.

• We need to cover the pool before it rains.
• She covered the cake with a layer of frosting.

Apply when talking about covering a road, roof, or other surface with a thick, sticky substance derived from coal or wood; typically related to roadwork. It sometimes has a negative connotation related to rough or unpleasant surfaces.

• The workers tarred the road, making it more durable against heavy traffic.
• After the storm, we had to tar the roof to prevent leaks.

This word is used when talking about covering a surface, usually with concrete, bricks, or stones, to make a smooth, hard surface for walking or driving.

• They are going to pave the driveway next week.
• The city plans to pave the streets in the new neighborhood.

This word is used when making something ready for use or consideration.

• She will prepare the ingredients before cooking dinner.
• He needs to prepare a report for the meeting.

This word is used when organizing or putting things in a particular order.

• She needs to arrange the books on the shelf by size.
• They will arrange a meeting for next Monday.

This word is used when making a surface flat or even.

• He used a tool to level the ground before building the shed.
• They need to level the floor before installing the new tiles.

Used when referring to the act of covering a surface with asphalt, concrete, or other materials to make a firm, level area for walking, driving, etc.

• They decided to pave the driveway to make it smoother.
• The workers are paving the new road.

A general term for any natural, solid mineral matter. It can be used in many contexts, such as construction, landscaping, and sculpture.

• They used stone to build the garden wall.
• He collected a small, smooth stone from the beach.

Commonly used to describe the finished, hardened surface of a street, road, or walkway. It's the result of paving and is often used in everyday language.

• The kids were playing hopscotch on the pavement.
• She tripped on the uneven pavement.

Typically used for describing flat stones that are used in walkways, patios, and other landscaping projects. It refers more to the specific type of stone than the act of covering an area.

• The garden path was made of beautiful flagstone.
• He chose flagstone for the patio because of its natural look.