paving
B2Formal/Technical (when literal), Neutral (when metaphorical)
Definition
Meaning
Material, such as stone or concrete, laid down to make a hard, level surface for walking or driving.
The act of laying such a surface, or the resulting surface itself; metaphorically, the foundation or enabling of something.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a noun denoting the material or the surface. Can be used attributively as an adjective (e.g., paving slab).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
UK: 'pavement' for sidewalk; US: 'sidewalk'. 'Paving' is consistent for surfaces like roads and yards.
Connotations
UK: Strongly associated with municipal work and landscaping. US: Similar, but 'pavers' is a common term for individual stones/blocks.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in UK due to 'paving stone/slab' being a standard term for hard landscaping.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
N of N (the paving of the path)Adj + N (concrete paving)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “paving the way (for)”
- “the road to hell is paved with good intentions”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
In construction or landscaping contracts: 'The quote includes all materials and labour for the patio paving.'
Academic
In urban planning texts: 'The extensive paving of the city centre contributed to the urban heat island effect.'
Everyday
Discussing home improvement: 'We're thinking of replacing the lawn with paving.'
Technical
In civil engineering: 'The sub-base preparation is critical for the longevity of the asphalt paving.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The council is paving the high street with Yorkstone.
- They've finished paving the new cycle path.
American English
- The city is paving our street next week.
- We paved the driveway with concrete.
adjective
British English
- We need to order more paving slabs.
- The paving contractor arrived early.
American English
- We chose paving stones for the patio.
- The paving company gave us an estimate.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The garden has stone paving.
- Be careful, the paving is wet.
- They are replacing the old paving in the town square.
- The cost of paving the driveway was quite high.
- The new policy is seen as paving the way for major reforms.
- Uneven paving can be a hazard for pedestrians.
- His extensive research paved the way for the groundbreaking discovery.
- Critics argued that the legislation was paving a road to economic ruin.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of PAVING as the PAYMENT for a nice path – you PAY to have a surface LAID.
Conceptual Metaphor
PROGRESS IS A PATH (paving the way); PREPARATION IS LAYING A FOUNDATION.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не переводите всегда как 'тротуар' (pavement/sidewalk).
- В значении материала или процесса используйте 'мощение', 'тротуарная плитка', 'брусчатка'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'pavement' incorrectly for the material (UK: paving, US: paving/pavers).
- Confusing 'paving' (result) with 'paving' (process).
Practice
Quiz
In a UK context, which phrase most likely refers to materials for a patio?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In UK English, 'paving' is the material or the act of laying it (e.g., paving stones). 'Pavement' is the finished surface for pedestrians (sidewalk). In US English, 'paving' is used for surfaces like roads and patios, and 'sidewalk' is used for pedestrians.
Yes, the verb is 'to pave'. 'Paving' is its present participle or gerund ('They are paving the road') and the related noun for the material/result.
It means to create the conditions or preparation for something to happen or be introduced more easily (e.g., 'His work paved the way for modern computing').
It is usually uncountable when referring to the material or surface as a whole ('The paving is cracked'). It can be used countably in specific compounds or types (e.g., 'different pavings').