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.

---

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

---

Etymology

Origin of milling

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

Example Sentences

Born in 1932 in South Africa to Lithuanian Jewish immigrants who ran a malt business, Kirsh ventured into grain milling and then distribution, according to news reports.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 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

Sean Murtha, a Los Angeles Police Department officer, testified he responded to a 911 call and found people milling around an F-150 in the middle of Fountain Avenue, “crying, yelling hysterically.”

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 19, 2026

Reto and Sandy Meroni, who have lived just outside the Swiss ski resort for years, stopped to take pictures while walking their dog among hundreds of World Economic Forum attendees milling outside.

From Barron's • Jan. 20, 2026

Nico made a muffled sound of protest as they soared over the walls and into a courtyard where more tourists were milling around, taking pictures.

From "The House of Hades" by Rick Riordan