v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Ground p. pr. & vb. n. Grinding. ] [ AS. grindan; perh. akin to L. frendere to gnash, grind. Cf. Grist. ] 1. To reduce to powder by friction, as in a mill, or with the teeth; to crush into small fragments; to produce as by the action of millstones. [ 1913 Webster ]

Take the millstones, and grind meal. Is. xivii. 2. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To wear down, polish, or sharpen, by friction; to make smooth, sharp, or pointed; to whet, as a knife or drill; to rub against one another, as teeth, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To oppress by severe exactions; to harass. [ 1913 Webster ]

To grind the subject or defraud the prince. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To study hard for examination; -- commonly used with away; as, to grind away at one's studies. [ College Slang ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To perform the operation of grinding something; to turn the millstones. [ 1913 Webster ]

Send thee
Into the common prison, there to grind. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To become ground or pulverized by friction; as, this corn grinds well. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To become polished or sharpened by friction; as, glass grinds smooth; steel grinds to a sharp edge. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To move with much difficulty or friction; to grate. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To perform hard and distasteful service; to drudge; to study hard, as for an examination. Farrar. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The act of reducing to powder, or of sharpening, by friction. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Any severe continuous work or occupation; esp., hard and uninteresting study. [ Colloq. ] T. Hughes. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A student that studies hard; a dig; a wonk. [ College Slang ] [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

obs. p. p. of Grind. Ground. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ NL. Named after D. H. Grindel, a Russian. ] (Med.) The dried stems and leaves of tarweed (Grindelia), used as a remedy in asthma and bronchitis. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One who, or that which, grinds. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One of the double teeth, used to grind or masticate the food; a molar. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Zool.) The restless flycatcher (Seisura inquieta) of Australia; -- called also restless thrush and volatile thrush. It makes a noise like a scissors grinder, to which the name alludes.

4. A submarine sandwich. [ local, U.S. ]
Syn. -- submarine, hoagie. [ PJC ]

Grinder's asthma,
Grinder's phthisis, or
Grinder's rot (Med.), a lung disease produced by the mechanical irritation of the particles of steel and stone given off in the operation of grinding. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Leather workers' materials. [ Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Grindery warehouse, a shop where leather workers' materials and tools are kept on sale. [ Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. & n. from Grind. [ 1913 Webster ]

Grinding frame, an English name for a cotton spinning machine. --
Grinding mill. (a) A mill for grinding grain. (b) A lapidary's lathe. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a grinding manner. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) The bowfin; -- called also Johnny Grindle. [ Local, U. S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

A grindstone. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A small drain. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A flat, circular stone, revolving on an axle, for grinding or sharpening tools, or shaping or smoothing objects. [ 1913 Webster ]

To hold one's nose to the grindstone,
To bring one's nose to the grindstone, to oppress one; to keep one in a condition of servitude. --
To put one's nose to the grindstone (a) to oppress one; to cause one to work hard and steadily. (b) to set oneself to a long and arduous task. --
To keep one's nose to the grindstone to continue at a long and arduous task; to apply oneself steadily to one's duties. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

They might be ashamed, for lack of courage, to suffer the Lacedæmonians to hold their noses to the grindstone. Sir T. North. [ 1913 Webster ]