grind

Everyday

1. To crush something into tiny pieces or powder, like grinding wheat into flour or coffee beans. tree →
2. To make something sharp or smooth by rubbing it on a hard surface. tree →
3. To rub things together hard and noisily: «grind your teeth». tree →
4. (noun, informal) Hard, boring work that goes on and on: «the daily grind». tree →
5. «grind to a halt» means slowly stop. tree →

In the lessons

In history and science, mills ground grain into flour; teeth grind food. In health, grinding your teeth at night can harm them. In everyday talk, «back to the grind» means back to work. Phrases: «grind to a halt», «grind your teeth», «the daily grind».

Examples

• The mill grinds wheat into flour. tree →
• Pepper is ground in a pepper mill. tree →
• Some people grind their teeth in their sleep. tree →
• The traffic ground to a halt. tree →
• Our back teeth grind our food. tree →
• He ground the knife on a stone to sharpen it. tree →
• After the holidays, it's back to the grind. tree →
• And the Goblin put the tongue on the coffee-mill, and how it began to grind! tree →

Note

Irregular past: grind – ground – ground. «Ground» is also a noun (the earth under your feet) — two different words. Don't confuse «grind» with «grin» (smile).

In Jewish tradition

The rabbis read Isaiah's words as a charge against leaders who treat the poor harshly. Grinding at the mill is also a picture of lowly work given to a captive, as with Babylon. In the primary lessons: In history and science, mills ground grain into flour; teeth grind food. In health, grinding your teeth at night can harm them. In everyday talk, «back to the grind» means back to work. Phrases: «grind to a halt», «grind your teeth», «the daily grind».

Examples

• Then let my wife grind unto another, and let others bow down upon her. (Writings JOB.31.10, JPS 1917) tree →
• Take the millstones, and grind meal; remove thy veil, strip off the train, uncover the leg, pass through the rivers. (Prophets ISA.47.2, JPS 1917) tree →
• What mean ye that ye crush My people, and grind the face of the poor?' saith the Lord, the GOD of hosts. (Prophets ISA.3.15, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Irregular past: grind – ground – ground. «Ground» is also a noun (the earth under your feet) — two different words. Don't confuse «grind» with «grin» (smile).