quarry

UK: /ˈkwɒri/ US: /ˈkwɔri, ˈkwɑri/ ,(kwôr′ē, kwor′ē)

Inflections of 'quarry' (n): npl: quarries

Inflections of 'quarry' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

quarries

v 3rd person singular

quarrying

v pres p

quarried

v past

quarried

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

quar•ry¹ /ˈkwɔri, ˈkwɑri/   n., pl. -ries, v., -ried, -ry•ing. 
n. [countable]

1. Building, Mining an open hole or pit dug in the ground, from which building stone, slate, or the like, is obtained by cutting, blasting, etc.

v. [~ + object]

2. Building, Mining to obtain from or as if from a quarry.

quar•ry² /ˈkwɔri, ˈkwɑri/   n. [countable] , pl. -ries. 

1. an animal or bird being hunted or chased:
   The eagle swooped down on its helpless quarry.
2. any object of search, pursuit, or attack:
   The squadron finally located its quarry.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

quar•ry¹  (kwôr′ē, kwor′ē), n., pl. -ries, v., -ried, -ry•ing. 
n. 

1. Building, Mining an excavation or pit, usually open to the air, from which building stone, slate, or the like, is obtained by cutting, blasting, etc.
2. an abundant source or supply.

v.t. 

3. Building, Mining to obtain (stone) from or as if from a quarry.
4. Mining to make a quarry in.

• Vulgar Latin *quadrāria place where stone is squared, derivative of Latin quadrāre to square
• Old French quarriere
• Medieval Latin quareia, variant of quareria
• Middle English quarey (noun, nominal) 1375–1425

quar′ri•a•ble, quar′ry•a•ble, adj. 

quar•ry²  (kwôr′ē, kwor′ē), n., pl. -ries. 

1. an animal or bird hunted or pursued.
2. game, esp. game hunted with hounds or hawks.
3. any object of search, pursuit, or attack.

• Latin corium
• Old French cuiree, derivative of cuir skin, hide
• Middle English querre 1275–1325

quar•ry³  (kwôr′ē, kwor′ē), n., pl. -ries. 

1. Building a square stone or tile.
2. Building, Architecture quarrel² (def. 2).

• Latin quadrātus quadrate
• Old French quarre
• noun, nominal use of obsolete quarry (adjective, adjectival) square 1545–55

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

quarry / ˈkwɒrɪ/ noun ( -ries)

1. an open surface excavation for the extraction of building stone, slate, marble, etc, by drilling, blasting, or cutting
2. a copious source of something, esp information

verb ( -ries, -rying, -ried)

1. to extract (stone, slate, etc) from or as if from a quarry
2. (transitive) to excavate a quarry in
3. to obtain (something, esp information) diligently and laboriously

Etymology: 15th Century: from Old French quarriere, from quarre (unattested) square-shaped stone, from Latin quadrāre to make square

quarry / ˈkwɒrɪ/ noun ( -ries)

1. an animal, bird, or fish that is hunted, esp by other animals; prey
2. anything pursued or hunted

Etymology: 14th Century quirre entrails offered to the hounds, from Old French cuirée what is placed on the hide, from cuir hide, from Latin corium leather; probably also influenced by Old French coree entrails, from Latin cor heart

quarry / ˈkwɒrɪ/ noun ( -ries)

1. another word for quarrel2

Etymology: 16th Century: from Old French quarré; see quarrel²