pestle

American  

[pes-uhl, pes-tl] / ˈpɛs əl, ˈpɛs tl /

noun

1. a tool for pounding or grinding substances in a mortar.

2. any of various appliances for pounding, stamping, etc.

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verb (used with object)

pestled, pestling

1. to pound or grind with or as if with a pestle.

verb (used without object)

pestled, pestling

1. to work with a pestle.

pestle British  

/ ˈpɛsəl /

noun

1. a club-shaped instrument for mixing or grinding substances in a mortar

2. a tool for pounding or stamping

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verb

1. to pound (a substance or object) with or as if with a pestle

Etymology

Origin of pestle

1300–50; Middle English pestel < Middle French < Latin pistillum, derivative of pistus, past participle of pīnsere to pound, crush

Example Sentences

A few had tooth structures that acted like a mortar and pestle and were able to grind in addition to just cutting.

From Science Daily • Oct. 5, 2023

In a perfect pesto world, that frozen sauce is homemade — a mix of tiny-leafed Genovese basil, Italian pine nuts and good olive oil that you’ve pounded by hand with a mortar and pestle.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 30, 2023

The next morning, I pounded some lemongrass and some chiles in a mortar and pestle and made some green curry.

From Los Angeles Times • May 12, 2023

From there, it was time to manually grind the chocolate using a mortar and pestle.

From Salon • Feb. 6, 2023

Nutmeg and cinnamon perfumed the air as she ground the spices with a pestle.

From "Fever 1793" by Laurie Halse Anderson

Related Words

• grate
• pulverize
• reduce
• scrape