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Synonyms

grinder

American  
[grahyn-der] / ˈgraɪn dər /

noun

grinders plural
  1. a person or thing that grinds.

  2. a kitchen device or appliance for grinding food.

  3. a sharpener of tools.

  4. a molar tooth.

  5. Chiefly New England and Inland North. hero sandwich.

  6. Informal. grinders, the teeth.


grinder British  
/ ˈɡraɪndə /

noun

  1. a person who grinds, esp one who grinds cutting tools

  2. a machine for grinding

  3. a molar tooth

"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

Regionalisms

See hero sandwich.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

Etymology

Origin of grinder

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English; grind + -er 1

Vocabulary lists containing grinder

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

Max Parke has been visiting the bridge since December, equipped with noise-cancelling earbuds, a high-vis vest and an angle grinder.

From The Wall Street Journal Mar. 10, 2026

Hamilton coach Elijah Asante said, “Coach Chesney is a grinder and he’s going to find those hidden gems.”

From Los Angeles Times Jan. 28, 2026

Mr De Wet also said Mr Olivier chopped up the hunting rifles with an angle grinder and burnt the wooden parts of the gun.

From BBC Oct. 9, 2025

The butcher stares then takes our meat to the grinder.

From "Inside Out and Back Again" by Thanhha Lai

Generators, metal grinders and backhoes to clear debris are also desperately needed, affected residents say.

From Barron's Jun. 27, 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

The high-pitched sounds of Mexico City’s organ grinders and the hum of a chatty crowd open Latin Mafia’s debut album, “Todos los dias todo el dia.”

From Los Angeles Times Dec. 31, 2024

Thompson said rescuers used "everything we can get our hands on", including jack hammers, grinders and concrete saws, to rescue people.

From BBC Dec. 17, 2024

The twelve of us that showed up had been able to put away only two or three feet of the pair of six-foot-long grinders wrapped in blue cellophane.

From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover

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