# grind up

CEFR B1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/grind-up
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to crush something into very small pieces or a powder.

For teachers: to reduce a solid substance to small particles or powder through mechanical pressure or friction; transitive phrasal verb.

## Examples

- You need to grind up the coffee beans first.
- The chef uses a mortar and pestle to grind up fresh spices for the curry paste.
- The industrial machinery is designed to grind up recycled plastic into fine pellets for manufacturing new containers.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He grinded up the pepper." but "He ground up the pepper." — the verb 'grind' is irregular; the past tense and past participle form is 'ground'.

## Usage notes

- usually used with food, minerals, or solid materials that can be crushed.
- Teaching tip: remind students that the past tense is 'ground up', which is a common source of confusion with the noun 'ground'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.