pebble
noun · verb
Simple meaning
A small smooth rounded rock.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
pehbuhlSay the bold part a little louder.
IPA pronunciation (US)
ˈpɛbəl
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
noun
A small smooth rounded rock
“He picked up a smooth pebble from the riverbank.”
A small stone, especially one rounded by the action of water.
geology
A particle from 4 to 64 mm in diameter, following the Wentworth scale.
curling
A small droplet of water intentionally sprayed on the ice that cause irregularities on the surface.
Transparent and colourless rock crystal.
A form of slow-burning gunpowder in large cubical grains.
verb
transitive
To give (leather) a rough appearance with small rounded prominences.
transitive
To pave with pebbles.
Word at a Glance
- Difficulty
- B1 · Intermediate
- Frequency
- Uncommon
- Typical Use
- Neutral / general English
Word Aura™
How this word commonly comes across.
Aura for this meaning
This meaning: A small smooth rounded rock
Used this way, pebble is a common word that usually carries little praise or criticism of its own. It stays understated rather than dramatic. It usually sounds natural in a wide range of settings.
“He picked up a smooth pebble from the riverbank.”
- Emotional tone
- Neutral
- Formality
- Neutral
- Intensity
- Mild
- How common
- Common
- Connotation
- Matter-of-fact
- Usage feel
- Neutral and straightforward
Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.
Share your sentence
Common Patterns and Combinations
How this word naturally appears with others.
Word Family
Related forms, grouped by how they connect.
Compound terms
Established multiword terms.
Any of several South African plants of the genus Mesembryanthemum cultivated for showy pink or white flowers.
A code name for a small computerized heat-seeking missile that was supposed to intercept and destroy enemy missiles.
Use This Word
See how this word sounds in a real sentence.
Ask Vocabaura
Understand the word your way.
What Does It Mean Here?
Words can change meaning depending on context.
Use it yourself
Keep learning “pebble” by choosing the kind of practice you need next.
- Practice sentence writingWrite sentences with vocabulary and get instant feedback.
- Practice in contextAnswer short vocabulary questions drawn from real situations.
- Review vocabularyTest your recall and strengthen words over time.
- Practice typingType vocabulary in short rounds that draw from words you've learned and saved.
Want to type words like this one without looking at the keyboard? Each typing round draws from words you've learned, saved or need to review. Follow the free Learn to Type lessons and type your own vocabulary with confidence.
Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.