pave

¹

[peyv]

verb (used with object)

paved, paving 

1. to cover or lay (a road, walk, etc.) with concrete, stones, bricks, tiles, wood, or the like, so as to make a firm, level surface.

noun

1. Southern Louisiana.,  a paved road.

pavé

²

[puh-vey, pav-ey, pa-vey]

noun

plural

pavés 

1. a pavement.

2. Jewelry.,  a setting of stones placed close together so as to show no metal between them.

adverb

1. Jewelry.,  in the manner of a pavé; as a pavé.

   diamonds set pavé.

adjective

1. Also pavéd, pavéed being set pavé.

   pavé rubies.

pave

¹

/ peɪv /

verb

1. to cover (a road, path, etc) with a firm surface suitable for travel, as with paving stones or concrete

2. to serve as the material for a pavement or other hard layer

   bricks paved the causeway

3. (often foll by with) to cover with a hard layer (of)

   shelves paved with marble

4. to prepare or make easier (esp in the phrase pave the way )

   to pave the way for future development

pavé

²

/ ˈpæveɪ /

noun

1. a paved surface, esp an uneven one

2. a style of setting gems so closely that no metal shows

Other Word Forms

• unpaved adjective
• well-paved adjective
• paver noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of pave¹

1275–1325; Middle English paven < Middle French paver < Vulgar Latin *pavare, for Latin pavīre to beat, ram, tread down

Origin of pave²

1755–65; < French, past participle of paver. See pave

Word History and Origins

Origin of pave¹

C14: from Old French paver, from Latin pavīre to ram down

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. pave the way to / for, to prepare for and facilitate the entrance of; lead up to.

   His analysis of the college market paved the way for their entry into textbook publishing.

Example Sentences

SB 79 allows the state to upzone historic districts, paving the way for the demolition of well-preserved Victorian houses, Arts and Crafts bungalows and Spanish Colonial Revival homes.

From Los Angeles Times

It is hoped that the result of this first-of-its-kind trial will pave the way to preventing the deaths of young elephants from the dangerous disease caused by this virus.

From BBC

After that, they will all be able to apply for permanent residency, paving the way towards French citizenship.

From BBC

Researchers have described the test as a "liquid biopsy" and said the "world-first approach" could pave the way for faster, cheaper and less invasive brain cancer diagnosis.

From BBC

But if anything, the guise of protecting user data was used as an excuse to pave the way for American businessmen to now own and use our data more dangerously.

From Salon