Grind
/ɡraɪnd/
Definitions
3 meaningsTo reduce (something) to small particles or powder by crushing it.
/ɡraɪnd/
To crush or pulverize something into fine particles.
He had to grind the corn to make flour.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're making your own spice mix. You'd *grind* the peppercorns, right? That means crushing them up into tiny bits.
👶 For kids: To crush something into tiny pieces, like when you grind up cookies to make a pie crust.
More Examples
The machine grinds the coffee beans before brewing.
How It's Used
"The chef used a mortar and pestle to grind the spices."
"The factory grinds raw materials into usable components."
To perform a task or series of tasks in a monotonous or laborious way.
/ɡraɪnd/
To perform a task repeatedly and laboriously.
I had to grind all weekend to finish the report.
💡 Simply: Think of studying for a big test. If you're *grinding*, you're working super hard and probably doing lots of practice problems over and over.
👶 For kids: To work really, really hard at something, like studying for a test or practicing a sport.
More Examples
The students grinded through their assignments to reach the deadline.
How It's Used
"She had to grind for hours before the exam."
"He had to grind through the project's tedious details."
A difficult and tedious activity or chore.
/ɡraɪnd/
A demanding or tedious task; a routine.
The daily grind of commuting was exhausting.
💡 Simply: Sometimes life feels like a *grind* – just the same boring tasks day after day. Like when you have to do chores every weekend.
👶 For kids: A hard job that you have to do over and over again.
More Examples
She escaped the grind of corporate life to open her own business.
How It's Used
"He was tired of the daily grind."
"She found the job to be a constant grind."
Synonyms
Idioms & expressions
grind to a halt
To stop working or proceeding.
"The strike caused the factory to grind to a halt."
put a grind to
To take a action or perform a task.
"The machine put a grind to the spice."
From Old English *grindan*, from Proto-Germanic *grindaną* (“to grind”), from Proto-Indo-European *ghrendʰ-* (“to grind, crush”).
The word 'grind' has been used for centuries to describe the act of crushing or pulverizing, and metaphorically, hard work or effort.
Memory tip
Think of grinding coffee beans to make coffee - reducing them to a fine powder.