means To cover a surface — a road, path, or yard — with a hard, durable material like stone, brick, concrete, or asphalt so it can be walked or driven on smoothly.

from From Old French 'paver,' to lay down a road, which traces back to Latin 'pavire' — to beat, ram, or tread down. The image is older than asphalt: a paved road began as earth and stone pounded flat underfoot. That same Latin root gives us 'pavement,' and the phrase 'to pave the way' carries the literal sense forward — flattening the ground so others can follow more easily.