First Known Use: before 12th century
Dictionary
1grind
verb \ˈgrīnd\
: to crush or break (something) into very small pieces by rubbing it against a rough surface or using a special machine
: to cut (meat) into small pieces by putting it through a special machine
: to make (something) sharp or smooth by rubbing it against a hard surface
ground \ˈgrau̇nd\ grind·ing
Full 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
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
See grind defined for English-language learners
See grind defined for kids
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Origin of GRIND
Middle English, from Old English grindan; akin to Latin frendere to crush, grind
2grind
noun
: boring or difficult work
: a person who works or studies too much
—used to describe the size of the pieces of something that has been ground
Full Definition of GRIND
1
a : an act of grinding b : the sound of grinding
2
a : dreary, monotonous, or difficult labor, study, or routine b : one who works or studies excessively
3
: the result of grinding; also : material ground to a particular degree of fineness <a drip grind of coffee>
4
: the act of rotating the hips in an erotic manner
See grind defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of GRIND
13th century
Synonym Discussion of GRIND
work, labor, travail, toil, drudgery, grind mean activity involving effort or exertion. work may imply activity of body, of mind, of a machine, or of a natural force <too tired to do any work>. labor applies to physical or intellectual work involving great and often strenuous exertion <farmers demanding fair compensation for their labor>. travail is bookish for labor involving pain or suffering <years of travail were lost when the house burned>. toil implies prolonged and fatiguing labor <his lot would be years of back-breaking toil>. drudgery suggests dull and irksome labor <an editorial job with a good deal of drudgery>. grind implies labor exhausting to mind or body <the grind of the assembly line>.
work, employment, occupation, calling, pursuit, métier, business mean a specific sustained activity engaged in especially in earning one's living. work may apply to any purposeful activity whether remunerative or not <her work as a hospital volunteer>. employment implies work for which one has been engaged and is being paid by an employer <your employment with this firm is hereby terminated>. occupation implies work in which one engages regularly especially as a result of training <his occupation as a trained auto mechanic>. calling applies to an occupation viewed as a vocation or profession <the ministry seemed my true calling>. pursuit suggests a trade, profession, or avocation followed with zeal or steady interest <her family considered medicine the only proper pursuit>. métier implies a calling or pursuit for which one believes oneself to be especially fitted <acting was my one and only métier>. business suggests activity in commerce or the management of money and affairs <the business of managing a hotel>.
work, employment, occupation, calling, pursuit, métier, business mean a specific sustained activity engaged in especially in earning one's living. work may apply to any purposeful activity whether remunerative or not <her work as a hospital volunteer>. employment implies work for which one has been engaged and is being paid by an employer <your employment with this firm is hereby terminated>. occupation implies work in which one engages regularly especially as a result of training <his occupation as a trained auto mechanic>. calling applies to an occupation viewed as a vocation or profession <the ministry seemed my true calling>. pursuit suggests a trade, profession, or avocation followed with zeal or steady interest <her family considered medicine the only proper pursuit>. métier implies a calling or pursuit for which one believes oneself to be especially fitted <acting was my one and only métier>. business suggests activity in commerce or the management of money and affairs <the business of managing a hotel>.
GRIND Defined for Kids
1grind
verb \ˈgrīnd\
ground \ˈgrau̇nd\grind·ing
Definition of GRIND for Kids
1
: to make or be made into powder or small pieces by rubbing <The mill grinds wheat into flour.>
2
: to wear down, polish, or sharpen by friction <grind an ax>
3
: to rub together with a scraping noise <grind the teeth>
4
: to operate or produce by or as if by turning a crank
2grind
noun
Definition of GRIND for Kids
1
: an act of sharpening or reducing to powder
2
: steady hard work <the daily grind>
Medical Dictionary
grind
transitive verb \ˈgrīnd\
ground \ˈgrau̇nd\ grind·ing
Medical Definition of GRIND
1
: to reduce to powder or small fragments by friction (as with the teeth)
2
: to press together and move with a rotating or back-and-forth motion—see bruxism
Learn More About GRIND
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