pebble

1 of 2

noun

peb·​ble ˈpe-bəl How to pronounce pebble (audio)
1
: a small usually rounded stone especially when worn by the action of water
2
: transparent and colorless quartz : rock crystal
3
: an irregular, crinkled, or grainy surface
pebbly adjective

pebble

2 of 2

verb

pebbled; pebbling ˈpe-b(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce pebble (audio)

transitive verb

1
: to pelt with pebbles
2
: to pave or cover with pebbles or something resembling pebbles
3
: to grain (a material, such as leather) so as to produce a rough and irregularly indented surface

Examples of pebble in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The walls and floor have flecked Venetian terrazzo tiles made with marble pebbles, while at the heart of the room there is a wooden counter inspired by the crates once used to transport premium wools hailing from various continents. Samantha Conti, WWD, 5 Nov. 2024 A couple of votes in Congress or a presidential proclamation on a Thursday afternoon amount to nothing more than tiny pebbles tossed into a large ocean. Wayne Cantwell, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024
Verb
Stars like Jennifer Lawrence and Jessica Alba are swapping out their smooth canvas and pebbled leather bags for purses with textured details. Melissa Epifano, Peoplemag, 28 July 2024 There can be many pros to this and experts say parents can also benefit from engaging in some pebbling with their kids. Kristina Behr, Parents, 25 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for pebble 

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English pobble, from Old English papolstān, from papol- (of unknown origin) + stān stone

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1605, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pebble was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near pebble

Cite this Entry

“Pebble.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pebble. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

pebble

1 of 2 noun
peb·​ble ˈpeb-əl How to pronounce pebble (audio)
1
: a small rounded stone
2
: an uneven, wrinkled, or grainy surface
pebblelike
-əl-ˌ(l)īk
adjective
pebbly adjective

pebble

2 of 2 verb
pebbled; pebbling ˈpeb-(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce pebble (audio)
: to produce an uneven, wrinkled, or grainy surface on

More from Merriam-Webster on pebble

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!