grinder
Americannoun
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a person or thing that grinds.
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a kitchen device or appliance for grinding food.
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a sharpener of tools.
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a molar tooth.
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Chiefly New England and Inland North. hero sandwich.
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Informal. grinders, the teeth.
noun
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a person who grinds, esp one who grinds cutting tools
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a machine for grinding
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a molar tooth
Regionalisms
See hero sandwich.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of grinder
Vocabulary lists containing grinder
Mechanical Engineering
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Engineering - High School
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Monson de Kansky was performing in the role of a street dancer in the ballet “Petrouchka,” and Igor played the organ grinder.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 29, 2026
“Sopranos” creator David Chase ran all those rules through the meat grinder at Satriale’s, and in the process made the most imitated show since “I Love Lucy.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 4, 2026
There is no doubt Norrie, a grinder with limited weapons, has maximised his talents superbly.
From BBC ● Jan. 23, 2026
Quality brew, especially when used with their bean grinder, for a fresh cup of joe that hits exactly how you need it without the fussing.
From Salon ● Nov. 20, 2025
As the organ grinder reached the end of his song, the crowd applauded, and the monkey danced.
From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros
Generators, metal grinders and backhoes to clear debris are also desperately needed, affected residents say.
From Barron's ● Jun. 27, 2026
Lalique salt and pepper grinders priced at £2,618.16 were bought in January 2020.
From BBC ● May 25, 2026
French investigators have collected more than 150 samples of DNA, fingerprints and other forensic traces from the scene, including from a helmet, angle grinders, gloves and a vest abandoned by the perpetrators, according to prosecutors.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 26, 2025
Mr Knight said Max had to be anaesthetised with a blow dart before emergency services cut through the bars of the cage using angle grinders.
From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2025
We used a machine the size of a mobile home to press them into a Z shape, then we attached wire brushes to grinders and blasted away the rust so they could be painted.
From "Educated" by Tara Westover
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
