/ ˈkwɒri; NAmE ˈkwɔːri; ˈkwɑːri/ noun , verb
■ noun ( pl. -ies )
1.
[ C ] a place where large amounts of stone, etc. are dug out of the ground :
a slate quarry
the site of a disused quarry
—compare mine noun (1)
2.
[ sing. ] an animal or a person that is being hunted or followed
SYN prey :
The hunters lost sight of their quarry in the forest.
The photographers pursued their quarry through the streets.
■ verb
( quar·ries , quarry·ing , quar·ried , quar·ried ) quarry (for) sth | quarry sth (from / out of sth) to take stone, etc. out of a quarry :
[ vn ]
The local rock is quarried from the hillside.
The area is being quarried for limestone.
[also v ]
► quarry·ing noun [ U ]:
There has been quarrying in the area for centuries.
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WORD ORIGIN
noun sense 1 and verb Middle English : from a variant of medieval Latin quareria , from Old French quarriere , based on Latin quadrum a square. The verb dates from the late 18th cent.
noun sense 2 Middle English : from Old French cuiree , alteration, influenced by cuir leather and curer clean, disembowel, of couree , based on Latin cor heart. Originally the term denoted the parts of a deer that were placed on the hide and given as a reward to the hounds.