Definition

1. Noun:
   • A paved surface for pedestrians: A hard, level surface, typically made of concrete, asphalt, or stone, constructed for people to walk on, usually alongside a street or roadway.
   • The material used for paving: The substance, such as concrete, asphalt, bricks, or stones, that is used to create a hard, durable surface on the ground.
   • The hard surface of a road: The paved or hard-surfaced part of a thoroughfare, such as a street or highway.

Usage

• The word "pavement" is primarily used as a countable noun (e.g., , ). In British English, it specifically refers to the pedestrian walkway beside a road (the sidewalk). In American English, it more commonly refers to the hard surface material of a road or the road surface itself, with "sidewalk" being the preferred term for the pedestrian path.

Examples

• Noun:
  • Please walk on the pavement, not in the road. (British English: pedestrian path)
  • The city is repairing the cracked pavement on Main Street. (American English: road surface/material)
  • The new pavement outside the building is made of decorative bricks. (material/surface)

Advanced Usage

• "To hit the pavement": An idiom meaning to go out looking for something, especially a job, by walking around.
  • After graduating, he hit the pavement to find work.
• "Pound the pavement": A similar idiom meaning to walk the streets persistently, often while looking for work or canvassing.
  • The sales team pounded the pavement to secure new clients.

Variants and Related Words

• Pave (verb): To cover a piece of ground with a hard, flat surface of stones, concrete, etc.
  • They plan to pave the driveway next week.
• Paver (noun): A person who lays pavement, or a stone, brick, or block used for paving.
  • The garden path was made from concrete pavers.

Synonyms

• Sidewalk (US): A paved path for pedestrians at the side of a road.
• Footpath: A path for people to walk on, especially in rural areas.
• Road surface: The top layer of a road.

Related Phrases

• Pavement artist: A person who draws pictures with chalk on pavement to earn money from passers-by.
  • We saw a talented pavement artist drawing a portrait.
• Pavement cafe: A cafe with tables and chairs set up on the pavement outside the establishment.
  • Let's have a coffee at the pavement cafe.

Noun

1. walk consisting of a paved area for pedestrians; usually beside a street or roadway
2. material used to pave an area
3. the paved surface of a thoroughfare