quarrying
/ˈkwɔːriɪŋ/
NOUN
1. The extraction of stone or other materials from a quarry
The process or activity of extracting stone, rock, slate, or other geological materials from an open excavation for construction, manufacturing, or industrial use.
1.1. Mining and extracting building materials
The commercial or industrial activity of removing natural stone, such as granite, limestone, marble, or slate, from the ground for construction and manufacturing purposes.
Synonyms
- mining
- excavation
- extraction
- stone mining
- stone extraction
Antonyms
- filling
- backfilling
- reclamation
Examples
- Quarrying has provided employment for generations of workers in the region.
- The environmental impact of quarrying includes habitat destruction and changes to the landscape.
- Modern quarrying techniques allow companies to extract stone more efficiently.
Related Words
- digging
- drilling
- blasting
- prospecting
- tunneling
- earthmoving
1.2. Excavating and removing material from the ground
The physical process of digging, boring, cutting, or excavating into the earth to remove rock and other underground materials.
Synonyms
- digging
- excavating
- boring
- drilling
- delving
- burrowing
- tunneling
- hollowing
Antonyms
- filling
- backfilling
- covering
Examples
- The quarrying of rock from the hillside required specialized excavation equipment.
- Extensive quarrying left deep cavities in the surrounding landscape.
- The workers used drilling and blasting methods during the quarrying operation.
Related Words
- scooping
- grubbing
- shoveling
- spading
- dredging
- unearthing
NOUN
2. A small piece of stone removed from a quarry
A small fragment or piece of stone chipped or broken off from a larger mass of stone in a quarry.
2.1. Stone fragments and chipped pieces
A small piece of rock or stone separated from a larger stone during quarrying or stone extraction.
Synonyms
- stone fragment
- rock fragment
- chip
- shard
- splinter
Examples
- The mason collected several small quarryings for use in the decorative stonework.
- Loose quarryings were scattered around the excavation site.
Related Words
- rubble
- debris
- gravel
- stone chips
- rubble stone
NOUN
3. Obtaining something through prolonged searching
The act of extracting or gradually obtaining information, material, or other resources through persistent and sometimes painstaking searching.
3.1. Searching for and extracting information
The process of uncovering useful information, evidence, or material by examining sources carefully and searching through them persistently.
Synonyms
- retrieval
- extraction
- gathering
- unearthing
- recovery
Antonyms
- concealment
- withholding
- suppression
Examples
- The historian's quarrying of archival records revealed several previously unknown details.
- The journalist spent months quarrying information from old documents and interviews.
Related Words
NOUN
4. Hunting or securing prey
The act of pursuing, hunting, or securing animals as prey, particularly by birds of prey.
4.1. Predatory hunting and capturing prey
The activity of pursuing or capturing animals for food, especially by predatory birds such as vultures or harriers.
Synonyms
- hunting
- pursuing
- stalking
- chasing
- predation
Examples
- The bird's quarrying behavior was observed while it searched the open fields for small animals.
- The naturalist documented the harrier's quarrying of rodents across the grassland.
Related Words
- tracking
- capturing
- preying
- foraging
- scavenging