grind

[grahynd]

verb (used with object)

ground , grinded, grinding .

1. to wear, smooth, or sharpen by abrasion or friction; whet.

   to grind a lens.

2. to reduce to fine particles, as by pounding or crushing; bray, triturate, or pulverize.

   Synonyms: pound, comminute, powder, crush

3. to oppress, torment, or crush.

   to grind minimum-wage employees.

   Synonyms: maltreat, persecute, afflict, plague

4. to rub harshly or gratingly; grate together; grit.

   to grind one's teeth.

   Synonyms: abrade

5. to operate by turning a crank.

   to grind a hand organ.

6. to produce by crushing or abrasion.

   to grind flour.

7. Slang.,  to annoy; irritate; irk.

   It really grinds me when he's late.

verb (used without object)

ground , grinded, grinding .

1. to perform the operation of reducing to fine particles.

2. to rub harshly; grate.

3. to be or become ground.

4. to be polished or sharpened by friction.

5. Informal.,  to work or study laboriously (often followed byaway ).

   He was grinding away at his algebra.

6. Digital Technology.,  (in a video game) to perform a monotonous task repeatedly in order to advance a character to a higher level or rank.

   You have to grind for hours before you can embark on the main story mission.

7. Slang.,  (in a dance) to rotate the hips in a suggestive manner.

noun

1. the act of grinding.

2. a grinding sound.

3. a grade of particle fineness into which a substance is ground.

   The coffee is available in various grinds for different coffee makers.

4. laborious, usually uninteresting work.

   Copying all the footnotes was a grind.

5. Informal.,  an excessively diligent student.

6. Slang.,  a dance movement in which the hips are rotated in a suggestive or erotic manner.

verb phrase

1. grind out

   1. to produce in a routine or mechanical way.

      to grind out magazine stories.

   2. to extinguish by rubbing the lighted end against a hard surface.

      to grind out a cigarette.

grind

/ ɡraɪnd /

verb

1. to reduce or be reduced to small particles by pounding or abrading

   to grind corn

   to grind flour

2. (tr) to smooth, sharpen, or polish by friction or abrasion

   to grind a knife

3. to scrape or grate together (two things, esp the teeth) with a harsh rasping sound or (of such objects) to be scraped together

4. to speak or say (something) in a rough voice

5. to hold down; oppress; tyrannize

6. (tr) to operate (a machine) by turning a handle

7. to produce in a routine or uninspired manner

   he ground out his weekly article for the paper

8. to continue to play in a dull or insipid manner

   the band only ground out old tunes all evening

9. to instil (facts, information, etc) by persistent effort

   they ground into the recruits the need for vigilance

10. informal,  (intr) to study or work laboriously

11. (intr) to dance erotically by rotating the pelvis (esp in the phrase bump and grind )

noun

1. informal,  laborious or routine work or study

2. slang,  a person, esp a student, who works excessively hard

3. a specific grade of pulverization, as of coffee beans

   coarse grind

4. slang,  the act of sexual intercourse

5. a dance movement involving an erotic rotation of the pelvis

6. the act or sound of grinding

Other Word Forms

• grindingly adverb
• grindable adjective
• grindability noun
• regrind verb
• ungrindable adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of grind¹

First recorded before 950; Middle English grinden, Old English grindan; akin to Gothic grinda-, Latin frendere “to gnash the teeth; complain”

Word History and Origins

Origin of grind¹

Old English grindan; related to Latin frendere, Lithuanian gréndu I rub, Low German grand sand

Idioms and Phrases

• ax to grind
• mills of the gods grind slowly

Example Sentences

Snell’s outing was a grind from the start, with Rushing misfiring to first base for an error in the first inning and Betts reacting slowly to a ground ball at shortstop to extend the second.

From Los Angeles Times

The Jets’ offense still looks disjointed without Aaron Rodgers, while the Steelers should be steady enough to grind out points with Rodgers on their side.

From Los Angeles Times

Call hit a single with one out in the sixth, and Pages grinded through a 12-pitch at-bat of his own after that.

From Los Angeles Times

“Obviously, when he pitches, he has that edge still. But yeah, I haven’t heard boo about anything as far as any physical kind of thing, outside of just the grind of the season.”

From Los Angeles Times

They were both staying up late, getting up early, grinding all day in between.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• grate 
• pulverize 
• reduce 
• scrape