To pave means to cover a surface with a hard, flat material like concrete, asphalt, or stone to create a smooth path for walking or driving. Workers pave roads by spreading hot asphalt and smoothing it flat. Cities pave sidewalks with concrete so people can walk without stepping in mud or puddles.

Before roads were paved, people traveled on dirt paths that turned into muddy messes when it rained. The Romans were master road builders who paved thousands of miles of roads with carefully fitted stones, some of which still exist 2,000 years later. Modern paved roads made cars practical and helped cities grow and connect.

The word also appears in the expression “pave the way,” which means to make something easier for others who come after you. When Marie Curie became the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, she paved the way for future women scientists. When you master multiplication, you're paving the way for learning algebra later. In this sense, you're creating a smooth path forward, just like a paved road makes travel easier.