English · Word Candidate

grinding

/ˈɡɹaɪnd.ɪŋ/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: grindings

Sense 1

Meaning · English

The action of grinding together or crushing into small particles; the sound of this action.

Noun

Ominous creakings and grindings came from the innards of the machine.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Meaning · English

The action of grinding a workpiece to change its size, shape, and surface finish.

Noun

Grinding sometimes involves tight tolerances on the order of a few microns.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Meaning · English

Of or pertaining to the act or gratingly sound of grinding.

Adjective

The meeting came to a grinding halt when the two sides could not agree.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Meaning · English

Relentlessly taxing; burdensome; exacting to the point of exhaustion.

Adjective

A week of filled with grinding toil.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

What does “grinding” mean?

The action of grinding together or crushing into small particles; the sound of this action.

Is “grinding” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.