Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense paves, present participle paving, past tense, past participle paved
1. verb [usually passive]
If a road or an area of ground has been paved, it has been covered with flat blocks of stone or concrete, so that it is suitable for walking or driving on.
The avenue had never been paved, and deep mud made it impassable in winter. [beVERB-ed]
Synonyms: cover, floor, surface, flag More Synonyms of pave
pavedadjective
...a small paved courtyard.
The sidewalks were paved with brick and lined with trees.
[Also + with]
2.
See pave the way for sth
pave in British English
(peɪv)
verb(transitive)
1.
to cover (a road, path, etc) with a firm surface suitable for travel, as with paving stones or concrete
2.
to serve as the material for a pavement or other hard layer
bricks paved the causeway
3. (often foll by with)
to cover with a hard layer (of)
shelves paved with marble
4.
to prepare or make easier (esp in the phrase pave the way)
to pave the way for future development
Derived forms
paver (ˈpaver)
noun
Word origin
C14: from Old French paver, from Latin pavīre to ram down
pavé in British English
(ˈpæveɪ)
noun
1.
a paved surface, esp an uneven one
2.
a style of setting gems so closely that no metal shows
adjective
3. Also: paveed (pæˈveɪd)
(of gems) set so closely that no metal shows
pave in American English
(peɪv)
verb transitiveWord forms: paved or ˈpaving
1.
to cover over the surface of (a road, etc.), as with concrete, asphalt, or brick
2.
to be the top surface or covering of
3.
to cover closely or thickly; overlay
Idioms:
pave the way (for)
Word origin
ME paven < OFr paver < VL *pavare, for L pavire, to ram, beat < IE base *pēu-, to strike, chop > Lith piauti, L putare, to cut
pavé in American English
(pæˈveɪ)
noun
1. Archaic
pavement
2.
a setting of jewelry in which the gems are placed close together so that no metalshows
Word origin
Fr, orig. pp. of OFr paver, pave
More idioms containing
pave
pave the way for something
Examples of 'pave' in a sentence
pave
They want to pay their respects to the man that paved the way for us.
The Sun (2016)
This could have paved the way for a British military plan to kick into action.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It paves the way for Spain to get a government after two inconclusive ballots and ten months of paralysis.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Now blood tests have shown the cancer is gone, paving the way for a bone marrow transplant to ensure it stays away.
The Sun (2016)
If the drug can stop further mental deterioration in patients it will confirm this theory, paving the way for more effective treatments.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The compensation settlement paves the way for larger claims in London, the global centre of currency trading.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
If the deal is effective, it could pave the way for a resumption of peace talks, which collapsed this year.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
This sample employment agreement can pave the way to an effective ministry for any church position.
Christianity Today (2000)
Work is also under way to pave roads and build infrastructure that will help the local economy.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The walls were damp and the ground was paved.
The Sun (2010)
That speech was seen as paving the way for the introduction of the national curriculum.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Surely modern life can pave the road to infinitely more happiness?
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
In using brick paving it is sometimes difficult to know how to deal with the edge of the pool.
Page, Russell The Education of a Gardener (1994)
Outside my house there is a small area paved with Suffolk floor bricks.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Scrub paths and paving: a quick blast with a power hose will lift stubborn stains.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Downside Outdoor areas are paved and the location is not that convenient for the town centre.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
They're paving the way for an exceptional cycle of growth.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
So there'd be no one to pave roads and deliver pizzas and our society would collapse.
The Sun (2012)
She insisted that the meeting was not paving the way for a Spanish rescue.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Only 14 per cent of the roads are paved.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
He credits the England player with paving the way for leg spinners in the national squad.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Many of the roads weren't paved.
The Sun (2013)
Less than a fifth of the 56,000 miles of road is paved.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
History's road is paved with examples.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
It might be better to get rid of the lawn altogether if it's tiny and pave the area instead.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Most importantly, bringing this form of financial innovation within the regulatory framework also paves the way for fiscal reform.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
I feel she is with me all the time and want to continue on the life path we paved together.
The Sun (2009)
When the diplomacy stops and the gunfire begins, a nation needs to pave the road from its fine intentions with serious military capability.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Or to put it another way, HS2 is as expensive as paving the roads with gold.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
This will pave the way for further payments of official aid to Greece, allowing it to meet its obligations under a bond redemption this month.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
In other languages
pave
British English: pave VERB
If a road or an area of ground has been paved, it has been covered with flat blocks of stone or concrete, so that it is suitable for walking or driving on.
The avenue had never been paved, and deep mud made it impassable in winter.
American English: pave
Brazilian Portuguese: pavimentar
Chinese: 铺 >路
European Spanish: pavimentar
French: paver
German: pflastern
Italian: pavimentare
Japanese: >舗装する道や地面を
Korean: 포장되다
European Portuguese: pavimentar
Latin American Spanish: pavimentar
Chinese translation of 'pave'
pave
(peɪv)
vt
[street, yard, path]铺(鋪)砌 (pūqì)
to pave the way for sth为(為)某事铺(鋪)平道路 (wèi mǒushì pūpíng dàolù)
(verb)
Definition
to cover (a road or area of ground) with a firm surface to make it suitable for walking or travelling on