Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Having a rough, harsh, or rasping sound: Describes a voice or sound that is low, rough, and often perceived as hoarse or grating.
   • Containing or covered with gravel or small stones: Describes a surface, area, or piece of land that is full of or resembles gravel.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective (Sound):

  • The old sailor told stories in a deep, gravelly voice.
  • He answered the phone with a gravelly whisper.

• Adjective (Surface):

  • The path was dry and gravelly, crunching under our feet.
  • They set up camp on a gravelly patch of ground near the river.

Advanced Usage

• Descriptive Metaphor: Used metaphorically to describe textures or qualities that evoke the roughness of gravel.
  • The sauce had a gravelly texture from the imperfectly blended spices.
• In Geology/Geography: A technical descriptor for soil or sediment types.
  • The soil profile showed a gravelly loam layer.

Variants and Related Words

• Gravel (n): Small stones and pebbles, often mixed with sand.
  • The driveway is covered in white gravel.
• Graveled (adj, less common): Covered with gravel.
  • The graveled walkway led to the garden.

Synonyms

• For sound: Raspy, hoarse, gruff, guttural, husky.
• For surface: Stony, pebbly, shingly, gritty.

Antonyms

• For sound: Smooth, melodious, silvery, clear.
• For surface: Smooth, muddy, sandy (fine), clayey.

Related Phrases and Collocations

• Gravelly voice: The most common collocation.
  • The actor is known for his distinctive gravelly voice.
• Gravelly soil/ground: Common in descriptions of land.
  • The plants thrive in well-drained, gravelly soil.
• Gravelly tone: Used to describe a manner of speaking.
  • He spoke with a gravelly tone of authority.

Adjective

1. unpleasantly harsh or grating in sound
   • a gravelly voice
2. abounding in small stones
   • landed at a shingly little beach