# Mills

/ˈmɪɫz/ (US) · /mˈɪlz/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/mills
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. factories or grinding buildings

noun · CEFR A2

buildings where machines crush grain into flour or make materials like cloth and steel.

For teachers: plural of 'mill'; buildings equipped with machinery for grinding grain or manufacturing specific materials such as textiles or paper.

- The old cotton mills along the river have been turned into modern apartments.
- During the industrial revolution, these textile mills provided employment for thousands of workers across the northern counties.

## Examples

- The old water mill still grinds grain for the local bakery.
- During the industrial revolution, many families moved to the city to find work in the textile mills.
- The preservation society successfully restored the nineteenth-century flour mill, ensuring that its intricate wooden gears and massive grinding stones remained functional for educational demonstrations.

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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.
