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Quarry vs Ditch - What's the difference?

quarry | ditch |

In lang=en terms the difference between quarry and ditch

is that quarry is to obtain (mine) stone by extraction from a quarry while ditch is to throw into a ditch.

As nouns the difference between quarry and ditch

is that quarry is a site for mining stone, limestone or slate or quarry can be an animal which is hunted, notably mammal or bird or quarry can be a diamond-shaped tile or pane, notably of glass or stone while ditch is or ditch can be a trench; a long, shallow indentation, as for irrigation or drainage.

As verbs the difference between quarry and ditch

is that quarry is to obtain (mine) stone by extraction from a quarry or quarry can be to secure prey; to prey, as a vulture or harpy while ditch is or ditch can be to discard or abandon.

quarry

English

(wikipedia quarry)

Etymology 1

From quarreria (1266), literally a "place where stones are squared", from (etyl) quadrare "to square", itself from quadra 'a square'

Noun

(quarries)
  • A site for mining stone, limestone or slate.
    • ''Michelangelo personally quarried marble from the world-famous quarry at Carrara
  • *
    • There was a good quarry of limestone on the farm

    Verb

  • To obtain (mine) stone by extraction from a quarry.
    • ''Michelangelo personally quarried marble from the world-famous quarry at Carrara.
  • (figuratively) To extract or slowly obtain by long, tedious searching.
    • ''They quarried out new, interesting facts about ancient Egypt from old papyri.
    Synonyms
    * (obtain stone by extraction) mine * (extract by search) dig (up)
    Derived terms
    * quarrying (noun)

    Etymology 2

    From quirre "entrails of deer placed on the hide and given to dogs of the chase as a reward," from (etyl) quirreie, from (etyl) cuiriee, altered (influenced by (etyl) cuir "skin," from (etyl) corium "hide"), from "viscera, entrails," from corata "entrails," from (etyl) cor "heart."

    Noun

    (quarries)
  • An animal which is hunted, notably mammal or bird.
  • A part of the entrails of a hunted animal, given to the hounds.
  • An object of search or pursuit.
  • * ''A US State Department website advertised a reward of up to $1m (£500,000) for the capture of its quarry , who was described as 5ft 11in (180cm) tall, with a pale complexion, "a moustache and a long, heavy beard that is starting to grey". - BBC News website, 27 April 2007
    • Synonyms
    * mark * prey * target

    Verb

  • To secure prey; to prey, as a vulture or harpy.
    • (rfquotek, L'Estrange)

    Etymology 3

    An alteration of quarrel

    Noun

    (quarries)
  • A diamond-shaped tile or pane, notably of glass or stone

    • References

    * English terms with multiple etymologies

    ditch

    English

    Etymology 1

    From earlier deche, from (etyl) dechen, from (etyl) .

    Verb

    (es)

    • Noun

    (en-noun)

    • Etymology 2

    From (etyl) dich, from (etyl) .

    Noun

    (es)
  • A trench; a long, shallow indentation, as for irrigation or drainage.
    • Digging ditches has long been considered one of the most demanding forms of manual labor.
    Derived terms
    * ditchdigger * ditch weed * ditcher * ox is in the ditch
    See also
    * fosse * moat

    Verb

  • To discard or abandon.
    • Once the sun came out we ditched our rain-gear and started a campfire.
  • To deliberately crash-land an airplane on the sea.
    • When the second engine failed, the pilot was forced to ditch ; their last location was just south of the Azores.
  • To deliberately not attend classes; to play hookey.
    • The truant officer caught Louise ditching with her friends, and her parents were forced to pay a fine.
  • To dig ditches.
    • Enclosure led to fuller winter employment in hedging and ditching .
  • To dig ditches around.
    • The soldiers ditched the tent to prevent flooding.
  • To throw into a ditch.
    • The engine was ditched and turned on its side.
    Synonyms
    * abandon * discard * dump * jettison * lose * shed * See also