rubble

[ruhb-uhl, roo-buhl]

noun

1. broken bits and pieces of anything, as that which is demolished.

   Bombing reduced the town to rubble.

2. any solid substance, as ice, in irregularly broken pieces.

3. rough fragments of broken stone, formed by geological processes, in quarrying, etc., and sometimes used in masonry.

4. masonry built of rough fragments of broken stone.

rubble

/ ˈrʌbəl /

noun

1. fragments of broken stones, bricks, etc

2. any fragmented solid material, esp the debris from ruined buildings

3. quarrying the weathered surface layer of rock

4. Also called: rubblework. masonry constructed of broken pieces of rock, stone, etc

Other Word Forms

• rubbly adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of rubble¹

1350–1400; Middle English rubel, robil < ?; rubbish

Word History and Origins

Origin of rubble¹

C14 robyl ; perhaps related to Middle English rubben to rub, or to _rubbish

Example Sentences

From the Gaia data, the findings support the picture of asteroids as loosely held together rubble piles, with lots of holes and cavities blanketed in thick, dusty regolith.

Read more on Science Daily

Emergency workers were continuing to search for people feared trapped under rubble.

Read more on BBC

The smart shops and restaurants running down to the beach are now pockmarked with shrapnel and bullet holes, the park with its French-manicured trees, is buried under grey rubble.

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Rescuers are expected to complete their search for 13 victims trapped under the rubble by the end of the day.

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Inspired survivors might even emerge from the rubble years later to mock-perform their executions as drag.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• debris