Grinding: meaning, definitions and examples

This word is often used to describe a repetitive, hard, and tiring activity, or the sound that is produced when two hard surfaces are rubbed together.

• She could hear the grinding of metal on metal as the machine operated
• He has been grinding at his job for years with no vacation

This word is used in the context of moving smoothly over a surface, often on ice or another hard surface using skates. It can also imply moving quickly or effortlessly through a task or situation.

• They went to the rink to skate
• He managed to skate through the exam without much studying

This word is used to describe the action of smoothly moving along a surface, often with minimal friction. It can also refer to decreasing gradually in some contexts.

• The children love to slide down the playground slide
• Profits have begun to slide due to the economic downturn

This word is typically used when talking about grinding food into small pieces using a grater. It can also describe the annoying sound made when two rough surfaces scrape against each other.

• Please grate some cheese for the pizza
• The sound of chalk grating on the blackboard was unbearable

This term is often used when referring to turning solid items into smaller particles, usually between two surfaces. It's commonly used in contexts like grinding coffee beans or grinding teeth.

• She spends every morning grinding fresh coffee beans.
• He could hear the sound of teeth grinding in frustration.

Use this word when referring to smashing something with great force into smaller, irregular pieces. It conveys more violence or effort than 'grinding'. It is often used in cooking or emotionally intense situations.

• She needed to crush the garlic for the recipe.
• His dreams were crushed when he didn’t get the job.

This word is used when referring to reducing something into fine particles or powder, often involving significant force. It can be used in scientific, industrial, or very intense contexts.

• The machine can pulverize rocks into dust within minutes.
• The spices were pulverized to add a concentrated flavor to the dish.

This term is specifically used for rubbing something against a rough or sharp surface to turn it into small pieces, usually in the context of food preparation, such as cheese or vegetables.

• Please grate some cheese for the pasta.
• He grated the carrots finely for the salad.