ENGLISH
REFERENCE

grind

v. · n.
US //ˈɡɹaɪnd// UK //ɡɹˈaɪnd// grind
Irregular verb past ground past participle ground
  1. 1 to crush into powder (v.)
    B1 Intermediate Cooking

    to crush something, like coffee beans or pepper, into small pieces or powder.

    to reduce a substance to small particles or powder by crushing it between hard surfaces.

    Example

    You should grind the coffee beans just before you brew the coffee for the best flavor.

    Example

    The traditional stone mill was used to grind wheat into flour, a process that required significant physical strength and patience.
  2. 2 to rub together (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to rub two hard surfaces together, often making a sharp or unpleasant noise.

    to rub two surfaces together with friction, often resulting in a grating sound or wear.

    Example

    Some people grind their teeth while they are sleeping because of stress.

    Example

    The rusted gears began to grind against each other, producing a high-pitched screech that echoed through the factory.
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  1. 3 to work or study hard (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    to work or study very hard for a long time without stopping.

    to perform repetitive, laborious tasks over a sustained period to achieve a goal.

    Example

    She had to grind for weeks to finish her thesis before the deadline.

    Example

    In the weeks leading up to the bar exam, he would grind in the library from dawn until well past midnight.
  2. 4 repetitive gaming (v.)
    C1 Advanced Slang Computing

    to perform the same actions many times in a video game to get rewards or level up.

    to engage in repetitive gameplay loops for the purpose of accumulating experience points or virtual currency.

    Example

    I spent all weekend grinding for enough gold to buy the new armor.

    Example

    The game's progression system forces players to grind low-level missions for hours to unlock the final boss encounter.
  3. 5 tiring routine (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    a difficult or boring routine that you have to do every day.

    a laborious or monotonous routine of work or activity.

    Example

    The daily grind of commuting to the city can be very exhausting.

    Example

    After twenty years in the corporate world, she decided to quit the daily grind and open a small bakery in her hometown.
  4. 6 texture of powder (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Cooking

    the size of the pieces after something has been crushed.

    the specific size or texture of particles produced by a grinding process.

    Example

    This coffee machine requires a very fine grind to work properly.

    Example

    The chef insisted on a coarse grind for the black pepper to provide a more rustic texture to the steak.
  5. 7 skateboarding trick (n.)
    C1 Advanced Slang Sport

    a trick where a skateboarder slides along an edge or a rail.

    a maneuver in which a skateboard or snowboard slides along an obstacle using the trucks or the board's surface.

    Example

    He performed a perfect grind along the handrail in front of the library.

    Example

    The skater lost his balance mid-grind and tumbled onto the concrete, narrowly avoiding a serious injury.
Etymology 1

From Middle English grynden, from Old English grindan, from Proto-West Germanic grindan, from Proto-Germanic grindaną. Cognate with Saterland Frisian gríende, griene (“to grind, mill”), Dutch grinden (“to grind”, rare) and grind (“gravel, shingle”), Albanian grind (“to brawl, fight”).

Etymology 2

From Faroese grind (“pilot-whale meat”).

Idioms5 entries

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