rubble

[ruhb-uhl, roo-buhl]

noun

1. broken bits and pieces of anything, as that which is demolished.

   Bombing reduced the town to rubble.

2. any solid substance, as ice, in irregularly broken pieces.

3. rough fragments of broken stone, formed by geological processes, in quarrying, etc., and sometimes used in masonry.

4. masonry built of rough fragments of broken stone.

rubble

/ ˈrʌbəl /

noun

1. fragments of broken stones, bricks, etc

2. any fragmented solid material, esp the debris from ruined buildings

3. quarrying the weathered surface layer of rock

4. Also called: rubblework. masonry constructed of broken pieces of rock, stone, etc

Other Word Forms

• rubbly adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of rubble¹

1350–1400; Middle English rubel, robil < ?; rubbish

Word History and Origins

Origin of rubble¹

C14 robyl ; perhaps related to Middle English rubben to rub, or to _rubbish

Example Sentences

"They tell me that they are digging so many boreholes - 140 boreholes or something - and all they have found there is inert waste, builders rubble and stuff."

From BBC

Many are feared trapped under the rubble of their homes after the magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck on Sunday near the country's border with Pakistan.

From BBC

But the remote, mountainous terrain means some places remain inaccessible, while there are reports of people dying under the rubble while awaiting rescue.

From BBC

"Most of the dead are under rubble. We are doing everything, but it doesn't seem possible soon," he said.

From BBC

Multiple sources from the government have said that dozens of houses are buried under the rubble.

From BBC

Related Words

• debris