treadmill

American  

[tred-mil] / ˈtrɛdˌmɪl /

noun

1. an apparatus for producing rotary motion by the weight of people or animals, treading on a succession of moving steps or a belt that forms a kind of continuous path, as around the periphery of a pair of horizontal cylinders.

2. an exercise machine that allows the user to walk or run in place, usually on a continuous moving belt.

3. any monotonous, wearisome routine in which there is little or no satisfactory progress.

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treadmill British  

/ ˈtrɛdˌmɪl /

noun

1. Also called: treadwheel.  (formerly) an apparatus used to produce rotation, in which the weight of men or animals climbing steps on or around the periphery of a cylinder or wheel caused it to turn

2. a dreary round or routine

3. an exercise machine that consists of a continuous moving belt on which to walk or jog

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Etymology

Origin of treadmill

First recorded in 1815–25; tread + mill ¹

Example Sentences

The lawyer said these efforts enticed users to a "treadmill of continuous checking" for new content.

From Barron's

He explained that to younger people like his students, collecting and renting DVDs is a way “to be able to slow down and get off this hedonic treadmill of ‘where’s my next stimulus coming from.’”

From Los Angeles Times

Most humans can’t sustain that pace in gym shorts on a treadmill.

From The Wall Street Journal

A Runna spokeswoman said it provides the speed number to help people who train on treadmills.

From The Wall Street Journal

A Brazilian man with a penchant for sporting records breaks a new one after tackling the most boring physical challenge he could dream up: running on a treadmill for 24 hours.

From Barron's