a place, typically a large, deep pit, from which stone or other materials are or have been extracted, an animal pursued by a hunter, hound, predatory mammal, or bird of prey

like a sitting duck/quarry, run to ground/quarry, stone's throw from the quarry

quarry tile, quarry-faced, quarry dust

Formal and Informal Expressions of quarry

In different contexts, you can replace 'quarry' with suitable alternatives. In a more formal setting, 'excavation, mine' is apt. In informal speech or writing, 'pit, hole' is a commonplace synonym.

quarry: Explore its Definition & Usage

quarry Definition

1a place, typically a large, deep pit, from which stone or other materials are or have been extracted
2an animal pursued by a hunter, hound, predatory mammal, or bird of prey

Using quarry: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "quarry" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

Example
The quarry is a popular spot for rock climbing.
Example
The workers were mining the quarry for limestone.
Example
The hunters tracked the deer to its quarry.
Example
The falcon swooped down to catch its quarry.

quarry Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for quarry

Idioms Using quarry

like a sitting duck/quarry
in a vulnerable position, easily targeted or attacked
Example
Without any cover, the soldiers were like sitting ducks for the enemy.
run to ground/quarry
to track down and capture or kill an animal or person
Example
The police finally ran the fugitive to ground after a month-long manhunt.
stone's throw from the quarry
very close to the source of something
Example
The new housing development is just a stone's throw from the quarry where the building materials are sourced.

Phrases with quarry

quarry tile
unglazed ceramic tile made by the extrusion process from natural clay or shales
Example
The kitchen floor was covered in quarry tile.
quarry-faced
having a rough surface left by the removal of the quarry's stone
Example
The building was constructed with quarry-faced stone.
quarry dust
fine particles of crushed rock, used as a filler between paving stones
Example
The patio was filled with quarry dust to keep the pavers in place.

Origins of quarry

from Medieval Latin 'quadraria', meaning 'place where stones are squared'

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Summary: quarry in Brief

The term 'quarry' [ˈkwɒri] refers to a place where stone or other materials are extracted, often in the form of a large, deep pit. It can also refer to an animal hunted by a predator. Examples include 'The quarry is a popular spot for rock climbing.' and 'The falcon swooped down to catch its quarry.' Phrases like 'quarry tile' and 'quarry-faced' relate to the use of quarry materials in construction.