grind

I UK [ɡraɪnd] / US verb
Word forms "grind":
present tense I/you/we/they grind he/she/it grinds present participle grinding past tense ground UK [ɡraʊnd] / US past participle ground
**

1) grind or grind up

[transitive] to break something into very small pieces or powder, by using a machine or by crushing it between two hard surfaces

The mill was used for grinding corn until the 17th century.

freshly ground black pepper

2) [transitive] to press something down onto a surface using a lot of force

She ground a half-smoked cigarette into the ashtray.

3) [transitive] to make something such as a knife smooth or sharp by rubbing it against a hard surface

4)

a) [intransitive] if a machine or vehicle grinds, it moves or works slowly, noisily, and with difficulty

A truck came grinding up the hill.

b) [intransitive/transitive] if parts of a machine grind, or if someone grinds them, they rub together and make an unpleasant noise

the sound of grinding gears

•

- grind the faces of the poor

- grind to a halt

- grind your teeth

Phrasal verbs:

- grind away

- grind away at

- grind down

- grind on

- grind out

- grind up

See:

axe I

II UK [ɡraɪnd] / US noun [singular] informal

something that is hard work, boring, and tiring because it takes a lot of your time and energy

the usual daily grind of household tasks