Meaning & use
cobbles
Last updated
UK/ˈkɒbəlz/
US/ˈkɑːbəlz/
“cobbles” is a form of “cobble”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meaning
nounplural
Rounded stones used to pave old streets and paths.
Grammar: Usually plural: the cobbles were wet.
Patterns
- walk on the cobbles
- the cobbles of a street
Our shoes slipped on the wet cobbles of the old town.
Bicycles rattled over the cobbles in the market square.
Moss grew between the cobbles in the narrow alley.
Word forms
| singular | cobble |
|---|
Common combinations
- wet cobbles
- The wet cobbles gleamed after the rain.
- uneven cobbles
- The uneven cobbles made the stroller shake.
- walk on the cobbles
- We walked on the cobbles to the cathedral.
- cobbles underfoot
- With cobbles underfoot, heels were a bad idea.
Synonyms and how they differ
- cobblestones
- It is the more common American word and means the same, though it can sound more complete.
- paving stones
- It refers to flat stones, not rounded ones, so it is broader.
- setts
- It names square-cut granite blocks, mainly used in British English, rather than rounded stones.
Word family
- cobble noun
- one rounded paving stone
- cobbled adjective
- paved with cobbles
- cobblestone noun
- a cobble used for paving
- cobbler noun
- a person who repairs shoes; also a fruit dessert
Commonly confused: cobbles or cobbler?
cobbles vs cobbler
A cobbler repairs shoes or is a fruit pastry dessert, and is not a paving stone.
Practice
The old street was paved with ___, so the cart rattled loudly.
Choose one answer.
Cobbles are rounded paving stones, which explains the rattling. Cobblers repair shoes and would not pave a street.
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