grit

[grit]

noun

1. abrasive particles or granules, as of sand or other small, coarse impurities found in the air, food, water, etc.

2. firmness of character; indomitable spirit; pluck.

   She has a reputation for grit and common sense.

   Synonyms: courage, fortitude, resolution

3. a coarse-grained siliceous rock, usually with sharp, angular grains.

4. British.,  gravel.

5. sand or other fine grainy particles eaten by fowl to aid in digestion.

verb (used with object)

gritted, gritting 

1. to cause to grind or grate together.

verb (used without object)

gritted, gritting 

1. to make a scratchy or slightly grating sound, as of sand being walked on; grate.

grit

¹

/ ɡrɪt /

noun

1. small hard particles of sand, earth, stone, etc

2. Also called: gritstone. any coarse sandstone that can be used as a grindstone or millstone

3. the texture or grain of stone

4. indomitable courage, toughness, or resolution

5. engineering an arbitrary measure of the size of abrasive particles used in a grinding wheel or other abrasive process

verb

1. to clench or grind together (two objects, esp the teeth)

2. to cover (a surface, such as icy roads) with grit

Grit

²

/ ɡrɪt /

noun

1. an informal word for Liberal

Other Word Forms

• gritless adjective
• gritter noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of grit¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English gret, griet, grit, Old English grēot; cognate with German Griess, Old Norse grjōt “pebble, boulder”; grits

Word History and Origins

Origin of grit¹

Old English grēot; related to Old Norse grjōt pebble, Old High German grioz; see _great , _groats , _gruel

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. grit one's teeth, to show tenseness, anger, or determination by or as if by clamping or grinding the teeth together.

Example Sentences

Even far from the frontlines I witness the grit and fortitude of a country fighting for its existence.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The corn hits first, a gentle, buttery sweetness that plays against the cornmeal’s subtle grit, while the cheddar melts into pockets of gooey tang.

Read more on Salon

But what hasn’t changed is the preparation and grit he brings to the game when he does play.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Known for her bubbly personality and infectious smile no matter what she does on the field, this was a different side to Rodrigues - one of grit and determination in an innings of pure class.

Read more on BBC

It didn’t happen overnight, took a lot of moxie and grit, but we made it through.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• daring 
• fortitude 
• guts www.thesaurus.com
• moxie 
• perseverance 
• spirit 
• spunk 
• tenacity 
• toughness