# macadam

> English word · Noun · IPA /məˈkædəm/ · frequency rank #67,610

## Definitions
1. The surface of a road consisting of layers of crushed stone (usually tar-coated for modern traffic).
2. Any road or street.

## Etymology
Named after Scottish engineer John Loudon McAdam (1756–1836), who invented the process of macadamization. Used for describing road surfaces originally constructed using the McAdam method, but now sometimes used for any road or street.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/macadam