pave

Word family

Related topics: Roads, Construction

pave /peɪv/ verb [transitiveT]

1 TTRTBCto cover a path, road, area etc with a hard level surface such as blocks of stone or concrete 〔用石块或混凝土板〕铺〔路、地面等〕，铺砌，铺筑

be paved with something

The city centre streets are paved with dark local stone.

市中心街道用当地的深色石块铺砌而成。

a paved courtyard

地面铺砌过的院子

n Grammar

Pave is usually passive in this meaning.

2 pave the way for something POSSIBLEto make a later event or development possible by producing the right conditions 为某事物铺平道路；为某事物创造条件

The Supreme Court decision paved the way for further legislation on civil rights.

最高法院的这一判决为公民权利方面的进一步立法铺平了道路。

Examples from the Corpus

pave the way for something• She would pave the way for a much more slender ideal: the flapper.• By paving the way for a national free market, absolutism fostered capitalism.• And this does, of course, pave the way for all manner of hilarious aircraft-undercarriage impressions at parties.• Their unique approach paved the way for an extraordinary leap into the deep earth.• They merely pave the way for an increasing proportion of those emissions to come from the burning of imported coal.• I pave the way for my people with product specialists, financial experts, the regional boys, whatever.• The Ports Act 1991 has paved the way for this privatisation of the Trust Ports by competitive tender.

3. the streets are paved with gold RICHused to say that it is easy to become rich quickly in a particular place 遍地是黄金〔表示在某地能迅速发财〕

Examples from the Corpus

pave• Not only were the streets impeccably paved, clean and lined with inviting shops, they were flanked by bike lanes.• The road through the valley was only paved last year.• Two thousand sick and injured soldiers were laid like paving stones in four miles of corridors.• If both you and the other person can find something to laugh about together it paves the way for a harmonious transaction.• They merely pave the way for an increasing proportion of those emissions to come from the burning of imported coal.• The Ports Act 1991 has paved the way for this privatisation of the Trust Ports by competitive tender.

Origin pave

(1300-1400) Old French paver, from Latin pavire “to hit, press down with the foot”

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Chinese

Corpus

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pave