macadam

[ muh-kad-uhm ]

/ məˈkæd əm /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for macadam on Thesaurus.com

noun

a macadamized road or pavement.

the broken stone used in making such a road.

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of macadam

1815–25; named after J. L. McAdam (1756–1836), Scottish engineer who invented it

Words nearby macadam

Mableton, Mabuse, mac, macabre, macaco, macadam, macadamia, macadamize, Macanese, Macao, Macapá

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use macadam in a sentence

Cool, dry weather; relatively but not totally flat terrain; soft running surfaces, like dirt, gravel or macadam.
Running the World|Michael Chertoff|July 25, 2009|DAILY BEAST
Rubber tires do not slip on good macadam roads and during our tour it was necessary to use chains on the wheels only a few times.
British Highways And Byways From A Motor Car|Thomas D. Murphy
The name macadam is often used now to denote the material used in making roads.
Stories That Words Tell Us|Elizabeth O'Neill
Mr. Gano stopped meditatively, and struck his blackthorn into the gray "MacAdam" powder.
The Open Question|Elizabeth Robins

She was put together skew-geed an' one side of her was so out of geer that she couldn't run straight even on a macadam road.
Five Little Starrs in the Canadian Forest|Lillian Elizabeth Roy
The car raced along the road, crossed a macadam highway, went four blocks and pulled to a stop.
The First One|Herbert D. Kastle

British Dictionary definitions for macadam

macadam

/ (məˈkædəm) /

noun

a road surface made of compressed layers of small broken stones, esp one that is bound together with tar or asphalt

Word Origin for macadam

C19: named after John McAdam (1756–1836), Scottish engineer, the inventor

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

macadam

Origin of macadam

Words nearby macadam

Words related to macadam

How to use macadam in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for macadam

Word Origin for macadam