grind

[ grahynd ]

verb (used with object)

, ground or (Rare) grind·ed; grind·ing.

1. to wear, smooth, or sharpen by abrasion or friction; whet:

   to grind a lens.

2. to reduce to fine particles, as by pounding or crushing; bray, triturate, or pulverize.

   Synonyms: pound, comminute, powder, crush

3. to oppress, torment, or crush:

   to grind minimum-wage employees.

   Synonyms: maltreat, persecute, afflict, plague

4. to rub harshly or gratingly; grate together; grit:

   to grind one's teeth.

   Synonyms: abrade

5. to operate by turning a crank:

   to grind a hand organ.

6. to produce by crushing or abrasion:

   to grind flour.

7. Slang. to annoy; irritate; irk:

   It really grinds me when he's late.

verb (used without object)

, ground or (Rare) grind·ed; grind·ing.

1. to perform the operation of reducing to fine particles.
2. to rub harshly; grate.
3. to be or become ground.
4. to be polished or sharpened by friction.
5. Informal. to work or study laboriously (often followed by away ):

   He was grinding away at his algebra.

6. Digital Technology. (in a video game) to perform a monotonous task repeatedly in order to advance a character to a higher level or rank:

   You have to grind for hours before you can embark on the main story mission.

7. Slang. (in a dance) to rotate the hips in a suggestive manner. Compare bump ( def 12 ).

noun

1. the act of grinding.
2. a grinding sound.
3. a grade of particle fineness into which a substance is ground:

   The coffee is available in various grinds for different coffee makers.

4. laborious, usually uninteresting work:

   Copying all the footnotes was a grind.

5. Informal. an excessively diligent student.
6. Slang. a dance movement in which the hips are rotated in a suggestive or erotic manner. Compare bump ( def 21 ).

verb phrase

1. 1. to produce in a routine or mechanical way:

      to grind out magazine stories.

   2. to extinguish by rubbing the lighted end against a hard surface:

      to grind out a cigarette.

grind

/ ɡraɪnd /

verb

1. to reduce or be reduced to small particles by pounding or abrading

   to grind corn

   to grind flour

2. tr to smooth, sharpen, or polish by friction or abrasion

   to grind a knife

3. to scrape or grate together (two things, esp the teeth) with a harsh rasping sound or (of such objects) to be scraped together
4. trfoll byout to speak or say (something) in a rough voice
5. troften foll bydown to hold down; oppress; tyrannize
6. tr to operate (a machine) by turning a handle
7. trfoll byout to produce in a routine or uninspired manner

   he ground out his weekly article for the paper

8. trfoll byout to continue to play in a dull or insipid manner

   the band only ground out old tunes all evening

9. troften foll byinto to instil (facts, information, etc) by persistent effort

   they ground into the recruits the need for vigilance

10. informal.
    intr to study or work laboriously
11. intr to dance erotically by rotating the pelvis (esp in the phrase bump and grind )

noun

1. informal.
   laborious or routine work or study
2. slang.
   a person, esp a student, who works excessively hard
3. a specific grade of pulverization, as of coffee beans

   coarse grind

4. slang.
   the act of sexual intercourse
5. a dance movement involving an erotic rotation of the pelvis
6. the act or sound of grinding

Derived Forms

• ˈgrindingly, adverb

Other Words From

• grinda·ble adjective
• grinda·bili·ty noun
• grinding·ly adverb
• re·grind verb reground regrinding
• un·grinda·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of grind¹

First recorded before 950; Middle English grinden, Old English grindan; akin to Gothic grinda-, Latin frendere “to gnash the teeth; complain”

Word History and Origins

Origin of grind¹

Old English grindan; related to Latin frendere, Lithuanian gréndu I rub, Low German grand sand

Idioms and Phrases

In addition to the idiom beginning with grind , also see ax to grind ; mills of the gods grind slowly .

Example Sentences

“I’m willing to grind through it and do it the old-fashioned way,” he said, according to the Sioux Falls Argus Leader.

From Los Angeles Times

But, until they grind through the pressure to victory, his team can't dispel the theory either.

From BBC

For example, it would incorporate unfamiliar cuts of meats into meatloaf or meatballs or grind crickets into flour for cookies or protein bars.

From Salon

While we can grind insects into protein powders, we can also look to chefs cooking traditional cuisines that use insects to broaden our culinary horizons.

From Salon

Sell is aware that his time as an active professional player is limited — Pete Sampras retired at 32, Andre Agassi at 36 — and he’s leveraging his skills to ensure he can transition smoothly into a post-tour career after his body breaks down or he tires of the grind.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• grate
• pulverize
• reduce
• scrape