Quarry

/ˈkwɔːri/

Meaning & Definition

noun

A place, typically a large, deep pit, from which stone or other materials are extracted.

The workers at the quarry extracted limestone for the new building projects.

An animal or person that is pursued or hunted.

The hunter tracked his quarry through the dense forest.

verb

To obtain (stone or other materials) from a quarry.

They will quarry the granite needed for the monument from the nearby hills.

To search for or pursue a target.

In his spare time, he would quarry information about ancient artifacts.

Middle English 'quarrye', from Old French 'cuerrée', from 'querre' meaning 'to square'.

a quarry of knowledge:

A rich source of information.

quarry one's thoughts:

To extract or dig out one's thoughts or ideas.

To pursue someone in a competitive context.

In the game, he was quarrying the top score among his friends.

To search intensely for something.

I spent the afternoon quarrying for the perfect gift.