pave

To cover with a pavement.

To cover uniformly, as if with pavement.

To be or compose the pavement of.

(pave the way) To make progress or development easier.

To cover or lay with blocks of stone or wood, or with bricks, tiles, etc., regularly disposed, and set firmly in their places so as to make a hard level surface; in general, to cover with any kind of pavement: as, to pave a street; to pave the courtyard.

To lay or cover with stone, brick, or other material, so as to make a firm, level, or convenient surface for vehicles, horses, carriages, or persons on foot, to travel on; to floor with brick, stone, or other solid material

Fig.: To make smooth, easy, and safe; to prepare, as a path or way

To cover something with paving slabs

To cover with stone, concrete, blacktop or other covering to make a road for vehicles

a setting with precious stones so closely set that no metal shows