graveyard

[greyv-yahrd]

noun

1. a burial ground, often associated with smaller rural churches, as distinct from a larger urban or public cemetery.

2. Informal.,  graveyard shift.

3. a place in which obsolete or derelict objects are kept.

   an automobile graveyard.

graveyard

/ ˈɡreɪvˌjɑːd /

noun

1. a place for graves; a burial ground, esp a small one or one in a churchyard

Word History and Origins

Origin of graveyard¹

First recorded in 1765–75; grave ¹ + yard ²

Example Sentences

Is queer humanity just a transitory circus in years of flourishing and a graveyard in years of shriveling?

From Salon

She travels to Savannah’s Bonaventure graveyard, abutting the Wilmington River, “where shrimp boats float, a mostly silent river that is only audible when a breeze shakes the trees and you hear the water whisper.”

From Los Angeles Times

At the Sheidaee graveyard we found startling evidence of child deaths.

From BBC

"You were always on the graveyard slot when there were ghastly by-elections."

From BBC

"It is a vivid reminder of how global wind patterns can supercharge local monsoon dynamics, turning the monsoon into mayhem, rivers into raging torrents and the Himalayas into a graveyard," said Mr Deoras.

From BBC

Related Words

• burial ground 
• cemetery