triturate

American  

[trich-uh-reyt, trich-er-it] / ˈtrɪtʃ əˌreɪt, ˈtrɪtʃ ər ɪt /

verb (used with object)

triturated, triturating

1. to reduce to fine particles or powder by rubbing, grinding, bruising, or the like; pulverize.

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noun

1. a triturated substance.

2. Pharmacology. trituration.

triturate British  

/ ˈtrɪtjʊˌreɪt /

verb

1. (tr) to grind or rub into a fine powder or pulp; masticate

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noun

1. the powder or pulp resulting from this grinding

Other Word Forms

• self-triturating adjective
• triturable adjective
• triturator noun
• untriturated adjective

Etymology

Origin of triturate

1615–25; < Late Latin trītūrātus (past participle of trītūrāre to thresh), equivalent to Latin trītūr ( a ) a threshing ( trīt ( us ) rubbed, crushed ( see trite) + -ūra -ure ) + -ātus -ate ¹

Example Sentences

Here it rushes and pushes, the atoms triturate and grind, and, eagerly thrusting by, pursue their separate ends.

From The Story of My Heart An Autobiography by Jefferies, Richard

They are observant enough of social forms to eat pie with a fork, and their teaspoon is always in the saucer; they eat slowly and take time to triturate.

From Guide to Hotel Housekeeping by Palmer, Mary E.

Yellow ochre, No. 244, 15 parts; oxide of cobalt, 1 part; triturate and calcine in a crucible until it has the desired tone.

From Young's Demonstrative Translation of Scientific Secrets by Young, Daniel

Subsulphate of iron, 1 part; oxide of zinc, 1 part; flux No. 2, 5 parts; triturate without melting.

From Young's Demonstrative Translation of Scientific Secrets by Young, Daniel

Just as the fish swallow stones to aid the digestion, we need the accidents and frictions of life to triturate our moral pabulum, and render it more easily assimilable to our constitutions.

From Paul Gosslett's Confessions in Love, Law, and The Civil Service by Lever, Charles James