grind

[ grahynd ]

/ graɪnd /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR grind ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), ground or (Rare) grind·ed; grind·ing.

to wear, smooth, or sharpen by abrasion or friction; whet: to grind a lens.

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

to oppress, torment, or crush: to grind the poor.

to rub harshly or gratingly; grate together; grit: to grind one's teeth.

to operate by turning a crank: to grind a hand organ.

to produce by crushing or abrasion: to grind flour.

Slang. to annoy; irritate; irk: It really grinds me when he's late.

verb (used without object), ground or (Rare) grind·ed; grind·ing.

to perform the operation of reducing to fine particles.

to rub harshly; grate.

to be or become ground.

to be polished or sharpened by friction.

Informal. to work or study laboriously (often followed by away): He was grinding away at his algebra.

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.

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

noun

the act of grinding.

a grinding sound.

a grade of particle fineness into which a substance is ground: The coffee is available in various grinds for different coffee makers.

laborious, usually uninteresting work: Copying all the footnotes was a grind.

Informal. an excessively diligent student.

Slang. a dance movement in which the hips are rotated in a suggestive or erotic manner.Compare bump(def 12).

Verb Phrases

grind out,

to produce in a routine or mechanical way: to grind out magazine stories.
to extinguish by rubbing the lighted end against a hard surface: to grind out a cigarette.

Nearby words

Origin of grind

before 950; Middle English grinden, Old English grindan; akin to Gothic grinda-, Latin frendere

SYNONYMS FOR grind

2. crush, powder, comminute, pound. 3. persecute, plague, afflict, trouble. 4. abrade.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR grind ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

grind·a·ble, adjectivegrind·a·bil·i·ty, noungrind·ing·ly, adverbre·grind, verb, re·ground, re·grind·ing.

un·grind·a·ble, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for grind

But what if this war does eventually involve ground troops, and what if it does just grind on for years?
Can America Still Win Wars?|Michael Tomasky|October 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The daily grind of child-rearing and the stress of sharing responsibility seem to be a big part of it.
Pope Francis Is Wrong About My Child-Free Life|Amanda Marcotte|June 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Those who propagate it are considered paranoids or activists with an axe to grind.
Did Putin Blow Up the Whole Polish Government in 2010? A Second Look.|Will Cathcart|April 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Progress has somehow gone from an inspiring option to an individual mandate—a grim necessity we are obliged to grind out.
Hunter S. Thompson Was Right About America: It’s Still Freaks vs. Fear|James Poulos|February 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST

But will he be willing to forsake his lucrative gig at Fox News to grind it out on the campaign trail?
Who Does the GOP Really Have To Run Against Hillary in 2016?|Myra Adams|January 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In the prison at Gaza the fallen chief was set to grind corn, to do the work of slaves.
Judges and Ruth|Robert A. Watson
The men of the Commune shall be free to grind their corn, and bake their bread wherever they please.
The Pilgrim's Shell or Fergan the Quarryman|Eugne Sue
Let us buy millstones and make him grind barley for us in this cellar.
Khaled, A Tale of Arabia|F. Marion Crawford
I believe there will, Page, and if you don't mind following my lead, I'll tell you what subject to grind on.
Frank Merriwell's Return to Yale|Burt L. Standish
Then take it out, grind well and wash it with vinegar, and dry it in the sun.
De Re Metallica|Georgius Agricola

British Dictionary definitions for grind

grind

/ (ɡraɪnd) /

verb grinds, grinding or ground

to reduce or be reduced to small particles by pounding or abradingto grind corn; to grind flour

(tr) to smooth, sharpen, or polish by friction or abrasionto grind a knife

to scrape or grate together (two things, esp the teeth) with a harsh rasping sound or (of such objects) to be scraped together

(tr foll by out) to speak or say (something) in a rough voice

(tr often foll by down) to hold down; oppress; tyrannize

(tr) to operate (a machine) by turning a handle

(tr foll by out) to produce in a routine or uninspired mannerhe ground out his weekly article for the paper

(tr foll by out) to continue to play in a dull or insipid mannerthe band only ground out old tunes all evening

(tr often foll by into) to instil (facts, information, etc) by persistent effortthey ground into the recruits the need for vigilance

(intr) informal to study or work laboriously

(intr) mainly US to dance erotically by rotating the pelvis (esp in the phrase bump and grind)

noun

informal laborious or routine work or study

slang, mainly US a person, esp a student, who works excessively hard

a specific grade of pulverization, as of coffee beanscoarse grind

British slang the act of sexual intercourse

mainly US a dance movement involving an erotic rotation of the pelvis

the act or sound of grinding

Word Origin for grind

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for grind

grind

Old English grindan "to rub together, grate, scrape," forgrindan "destroy by crushing" (class III strong verb; past tense grand, past participle grunden), from Proto-Germanic *grindanan (cf. Dutch grenden), related to ground, from PIE *ghrendh- "to grind" (cf. Latin frendere "to gnash the teeth," Greek khondros "corn, grain," Lithuanian grendu "to scrape, scratch"). Meaning "to make smooth or sharp by friction" is from c.1300. Most other Germanic languages use a verb cognate with Latin molere (cf. Dutch malen, Old Norse mala, German mahlen).

grind

late 12c., "gnashing the teeth," from grind (v.). The sense "steady, hard work" first recorded 1851 in college student slang (but cf. gerund-grinder, 1710); the meaning "hard-working student" is American English slang from 1864.

Idioms and Phrases with grind

grind

In addition to the idiom beginning with grind

grind to a halt

also see:

ax to grind
mills of the gods grind slowly

grind

verb (used with object), ground or (Rare) grind·ed; grind·ing.

verb (used without object), ground or (Rare) grind·ed; grind·ing.

noun

Verb Phrases

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Nearby words

Origin of grind

Examples from the Web for grind

grind

verb grinds, grinding or ground

noun

Word Origin for grind

grind

grind

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