milling

American  

[mil-ing] / ˈmɪl ɪŋ /

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.

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milling British  

/ 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

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Etymology

Origin of milling

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

Example Sentences

Her machinery allowed households to produce meal more reliably and in greater quantities and supported the shift from subsistence hand-pounding to mechanized milling.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

There wasn't exactly an air of shock among members milling around the tea and coffee tables in Paisley.

From BBC • Feb. 27, 2026

Hundreds of tourists could be seen milling around the fountain Friday, many holding phones aloft to snap pictures.

From Barron's • Dec. 19, 2025

Starch grains from wheat and barley, along with clear signs of milling, cooking, and baking, indicated that his meals included cooked wheat semolina and baked wheat bread.

From Science Daily • Nov. 14, 2025

As they came up to the cattle still milling about on the road they reined up sharply.

From "My Brother Sam is Dead" by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier