grind

¹grind

verb \ˈgrīnd\

ground\ˈgrau̇nd\grind·ing

Definition of GRIND

transitive verb

1

: to reduce to powder or small fragments by friction (as in a mill or with the teeth)

2

: to wear down, polish, or sharpen by friction <grind an ax>

3

a : oppress, harass b : to weaken or destroy gradually —usually used with down <poverty ground her spirit down>

4

a : to press together with a rotating motion <grind the teeth> b : to rub or press harshly <ground the cigarette out>

5

: to operate or produce by turning a crank <grind a hand organ>

intransitive verb

1

: to perform the operation of grinding

2

: to become pulverized, polished, or sharpened by friction

3

: to move with difficulty or friction especially so as to make a grating noise <gears grinding>

4

: drudge; especially : to study hard <grind for an exam>

5

: to rotate the hips in an erotic manner

— grind·ing·ly \ˈgrīn-diŋ-lē\ adverb

Examples of GRIND

1. The corn is ground into meal.
2. The steel grinds to a sharp edge.
3. She kept grinding the car's gears.
4. He grinds his teeth in his sleep.
5. I could hear the gears grinding.

Origin of GRIND

Middle English, from Old English grindan; akin to Latin frendere to crush, grind

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to GRIND

Synonyms: buff, file, hone, rasp, rub, sand

Antonyms: blunt, dull

Related Words: plane, scrape; sandblast, scour; burnish, dress, gloss, polish, shine, smooth; edge, hone, sharpen, strop, whet; regrind

Near Antonyms: coarsen, rough (up), roughen, scuff

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Rhymes with GRIND

bind, blind, find, hind, kind, mind, rind, signed, spined, tined, wind, wynd