milling

[ mil-ing ]

noun

1. an act or instance of subjecting something to the operation of a mill.
2. an act or process of producing plane or shaped surfaces with a milling machine.
3. Coining.
   1. an act or process of making a raised edge on a coin or the like.
   2. an act or process of making narrow, radial grooves on such a raised edge.
   3. a number of grooves so made.
4. Slang. a beating or thrashing.

milling

/ ˈmɪlɪŋ /

noun

1. the act or process of grinding, cutting, pressing, or crushing in a mill
2. the vertical grooves or fluting on the edge of a coin, etc
3. (in W North America) a method of halting a stampede of cattle by turning the leaders in a wide arc until the herd turns in upon itself in a tightening spiral

Word History and Origins

Origin of milling¹

1425–75; late Middle English. See mill ¹, -ing ¹

Example Sentences

ProPublica made numerous requests to Florida’s two largest sugar producers to film the harvesting and milling processes and conduct on-camera interviews with company representatives for this story.

From ProPublica

Lest anyone forget, though, informational signs would tell the story of the site, and a memorial would stand “to those individuals and families affected by the exploration for uranium and its mining, milling, and remediation on the Colorado Plateau.”

From Popular-Science

A process known as focused ion beam milling shaves down each slice of tissue a few nanometers at a time.

From Singularity Hub 

They have a milling machine and any milling machine, especially one like that that’s highly automated and robotic, it has a tendency to goo up over time, to get dirty.

From MIT Technology Review

Milling crowds turned out asking for U.S. help and there was praise for Kerry.

From The Daily Beast

There, hundreds of passengers were milling around with their luggage in a state of utter confusion.

From The Daily Beast

Girls are milling outside in mini-dresses and low-cropped tops talking to bouncers behind the red velvet ropes.

From The Daily Beast

It was after lunch, and the 80 or so veterans were milling around, chatting, and watching TV.

From The Daily Beast

That sort of thing is to be expected—and, for the most part, ignored by the hordes of delegates and reporters milling about.

From The Daily Beast

The industries include brewing, saw-milling, lace-making and antimony mining and founding.

From Project Gutenberg

Allegan, an agricultural and milling county of the state of Michigan, bordering on the east shores of lake Michigan.

From Project Gutenberg

The retreat was halted and transformed into milling confusion.

From Project Gutenberg

Out of this milling process a collective impulse is formed which dominates all members of the crowd.

From Project Gutenberg

She pointed far up over their heads to where the cone of faintly bluish light swung, free from the milling horde.

From Project Gutenberg