From Middle English grynden, from Old English grindan (“to grind”), from Proto-West Germanic *grindan, from Proto-Germanic *grindaną (“to crush, grind”).
Cognate with Saterland Frisian gríende, griene (“to grind, mill”), West Frisian grintsje (“to crush, punish”), Dutch grinden (“to grind”, rare) and grind (“gravel, shingle”), Albanian grind (“to brawl, fight”).
Meanings
(countable, uncountable) The act of reducing to powder, or of sharpening, by friction.
(countable, uncountable) Something that has been reduced to powder, something that has been ground.
(countable, uncountable) A specific degree of pulverization of coffee beans.
This bag contains espresso grind.
(countable, uncountable) A tedious and laborious task.
Running again in more open agricultural country, the Harrogate line encounters a short downgrade before the stiff uphill grind to Harrogate begins. 1961 February, D. Bertram, “The lines to Wetherby and their traffic”, in Trains Illustrated, page 101:
This homework is a grind.
(countable, uncountable) A grinding trick on a skateboard or snowboard.
(archaic, countable, slang, uncountable) One who studies hard.
[…] I suppose I don't know much about books, compared with you—”
“Oh, I was never much of a grind,” the other cut in hastily. 1911, Sunset, volume 27, page 440:
If you are at all bright, don't be a grind. Grinding may make a second-hand genius of you (for all the real things are dead), and if you become a genius you will be sure to smoke dope or swallow laudanum. They all did it. 1900, “Gifford Arthur Nelson”, in The Naughty-Naughtian, page 118:
(abbreviation, alt-of, clipping, uncountable) Clipping of grindcore (“subgenre of heavy metal”).
I've been on the grind all week, trying to make ends meet.
Everyone has to work, they mourned, and that takes its toll. They weren't glamourising the grind because they knew their effort didn't match the supposed rewards. 2023 September 20, Lucy Ford, “How pop-music's hustle culture anthem was made redundant”, in GQ:
de Quälerei (a tedious task) · it tritato (a specific degree of pulverization of coffee beans) · it faticata (a tedious task) · it molato (a specific degree of pulverization of coffee beans) · de Mahlung (a specific degree of pulverization of coffee beans) · it sfacchinata (a tedious task) · kix vêi-àh (grinded but not fully powdered ones) · es rutina (a tedious task) · fi jauhatus (a specific degree of pulverization of coffee beans) · de Plackerei (a tedious task) · sq grime (grinded but not fully powdered ones) · fi karkeus (a specific degree of pulverization of coffee beans) · el άλεσμα (a specific degree of pulverization of coffee beans) · ru гринд (a tedious task) · nl karwei (a tedious task) · de Mahlfeinheit (a specific degree of pulverization of coffee beans) · it macinato (a specific degree of pulverization of coffee beans) · de Schinderei (a tedious task) · es molienda (a specific degree of pulverization of coffee beans)
From Middle English grynden, from Old English grindan (“to grind”), from Proto-West Germanic *grindan, from Proto-Germanic *grindaną (“to crush, grind”).
Cognate with Saterland Frisian gríende, griene (“to grind, mill”), West Frisian grintsje (“to crush, punish”), Dutch grinden (“to grind”, rare) and grind (“gravel, shingle”), Albanian grind (“to brawl, fight”).
Meanings
(transitive) To reduce to smaller pieces by crushing with lateral motion.
(transitive) To shape with the force of friction.
grind a lens; grind an axe
To remove material by rubbing with an abrasive surface.
(intransitive) To become ground, pulverized, or polished by friction.
Steel grinds to a sharp edge.
This corn grinds well.
To move with much difficulty or friction; to grate.
(intransitive) To slide the flat portion of a skateboard or snowboard across an obstacle such as a railing.
(transitive) To oppress, hold down or weaken.
(intransitive, slang) To rotate the hips erotically.
She said, "How'd you like to waste some time?" / And I could not resist when I saw little Nikki grind 1984, Prince, “Darling Nikki”, in Purple Rain, performed by Prince and the Revolution:
(slang) To dance in a sexually suggestive way with both partners in very close proximity, often pressed against each other.
(slang) To rub one's body against another's in a sexual way; to frottage.
She wanted to grind herself against him, wanted to moan, loud and free, wanted to take his hand and make him touch her more firmly. 2013 February 26, Elizabeth Hoyt, Lord of Darkness: Number 5 in series, Hachette UK, →ISBN:
This morning, we woke up and made out for a solid forty-five minutes, grinding like teenagers until she came against my thigh. 2020 April 7, Laurelin Paige, Claire Contreras, Sierra Simone, Skye Warren, Annika Martin, Need You Now, Top Shelf Romance LLC:
He ground against her until he was muttering curses, his kiss rougher than before. 2016 August 16, Heather McGovern, A Moment of Bliss, Lyrical Press, →ISBN:
She kept grinding until they were both spent: their bliss washing over them entirely. 2017 December 17, Becca Fanning, Shifter Royal Dynasty Vol 1 (Royal BBW Bear Shifter Secret Baby Romance Series), Gizmo Media:
To repeat a task a large number of times in a row to achieve a specific goal.
To extend the variety past that, you'll need to unlock new units in each class, meaning you have to grind through the rather lengthy process of using every one of your class’ weapons and skills significantly across several matches. 2015 February 14, Steven Strom, “Evolve Review: Middle of the food chain”, in Ars Technica:
Similarly, nearly all massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs), such as Dungeons & Dragons Online, feature grind: Players repeat tasks, or often “quests”, to gain in-game currency to spend on weapons or other ancillary items. 2013, Will Luton, Free-to-Play: Making Money From Games You Give Away, New Riders, →ISBN, page 38:
These enemies give lots of loot when killed, so many players fight them to grind for resources.
The first level of the game is the best place to grind extra lives.
For a while I used to grind demons and try to get the count higher.
(transitive) To operate by turning a crank.
to grind an organ
To produce mechanically and repetitively as if by turning a crank.
(dated) To automatically format and indent code.
(Hawaii, slang) To eat.
Eh, brah, let's go grind.
To instill through repetitive teaching.
Grinding lessons into students' heads does not motivate them to learn.
(intransitive, slang) To work or study hard; to hustle or drudge.
to grind LeetCode
One evening, during evening work, Charlie was trying hard to do the verses which had been set to his form. […] Wilton, whose conduct had been more impertinent than that of any one else, said to Charlie—
“I say, young Evson, how you are grinding.”
“I have these verses to do,” said Charlie simply. 1862, Frederic W. Farrar, St. Winifred's: or the World of School:
(slang, transitive) To annoy or irritate (a person); to grind one's gears.
I need to pontificate on something that really grinds me. So here goes. I am sick and tired of lazy thinkers using the defense of “legislated morality.” 2003, Steven Wunderink, Minding Your Spiritual Business: Life Stories with Life Sense, page 139:
ca picar (to reduce to smaller pieces) · cy malu (to reduce to smaller pieces) · ko 빻다 (to reduce to smaller pieces) · fi hinkata (to produce mechanically and repetitively as if by turning a crank) · ckb هاڕین (to reduce to smaller pieces) · es estridular (to move with much difficulty or friction) · sv nöta (to repeat a task in video games) · lv malt (to reduce to smaller pieces) · sq blu (slang: to eat) · it sculettare (slang: to rotate the hips erotically) · no rive (to reduce to smaller pieces) · pt rangir (to move with much difficulty or friction) · wa moure (to reduce to smaller pieces) · es rechinar (to move with much difficulty or friction) · fr meuler (to remove material by rubbing with an abrasive surface) · wa broyî (to reduce to smaller pieces) · akl galing (to reduce to smaller pieces) · hu súrlódik (to move with much difficulty or friction) · hu döcög (to move with much difficulty or friction) · fi jauhaa (to reduce to smaller pieces) · da kaste i sig (slang: to eat) · uga 𐎉𐎈𐎐 (to reduce to smaller pieces) · uk моло́ти (to reduce to smaller pieces) · vec maxenar (to reduce to smaller pieces) · tr öğütmek (to reduce to smaller pieces) · hu darál (to reduce to smaller pieces) · no skrape (to remove material by rubbing with an abrasive surface) · de einbläuen (to instill through repetitive teaching) · cs drtit (to reduce to smaller pieces) · rm moler (to reduce to smaller pieces) · da raspe (to reduce to smaller pieces) · ca culejar (slang: to rotate the hips erotically) · vec sgramołare (to reduce to smaller pieces) · la molō (to reduce to smaller pieces) · fi grindata (to work or study hard) · fi veivata (to operate by turning a crank) · da vrikke på hofterne (slang: to rotate the hips erotically) · sco pran (to reduce to smaller pieces) · th บด (to reduce to smaller pieces) · sv nöta in (to instill through repetitive teaching) · el αλέθω (to reduce to smaller pieces) · ru толо́чь (to reduce to smaller pieces) · ru зубрить (to work or study hard) · hu magol (to work or study hard) · ro măcina (to reduce to smaller pieces) · fi paahtaa (to work or study hard) · hu köszörül (to shape with the force of friction) · uk шліфува́ти (to remove material by rubbing with an abrasive surface) · ar طَحَنَ (to reduce to smaller pieces) · pt brunir (to shape with the force of friction) · izh jauhoa (to reduce to smaller pieces) · be таўчы́ (to reduce to smaller pieces) · cmn 刷 (to repeat a task in video games) · nl malen (to reduce to smaller pieces) · de sich abmühen (to work or study hard) · hu csikorog (to move with much difficulty or friction) · tr bilemek (to remove material by rubbing with an abrasive surface) · ulw tiknaka (to reduce to smaller pieces) · pt triturar (to reduce to smaller pieces) · br malañ (to reduce to smaller pieces) · fr moudre (to reduce to smaller pieces) · da skrabe (to remove material by rubbing with an abrasive surface) · pt polir (to shape with the force of friction) · got 𐌳𐌹𐍃𐍅𐌹𐌽𐌸𐌾𐌰𐌽 (to reduce to smaller pieces) · de schleifen (to shape with the force of friction) · hy աղալ (to reduce to smaller pieces) · fi raahautua (to move with much difficulty or friction) · de sich abrackern (to work or study hard) · mi kauoro (to remove material by rubbing with an abrasive surface) · da rive (to reduce to smaller pieces) · mhn moln (to reduce to smaller pieces) · es moler (to reduce to smaller pieces) · de pauken (to instill through repetitive teaching) · vi nghiền (to reduce to smaller pieces) · es esforzarse (to work or study hard) · sv slipa (to shape with the force of friction) · he טחן (to reduce to smaller pieces) · nl verpulveren (to reduce to smaller pieces) · dlm macnur (to reduce to smaller pieces) · es triturar (to reduce to smaller pieces) · vo grainön (to reduce to smaller pieces) · cmn 磨碎 (to reduce to smaller pieces) · hu csiszol (to shape with the force of friction) · fi puurtaa (to work or study hard) · izh jauhaa (to reduce to smaller pieces) · cs brousit (to remove material by rubbing with an abrasive surface) · fi raataa (to work or study hard) · cu млѣти (to reduce to smaller pieces) · txb wālts- (to reduce to smaller pieces) · ast moler (to reduce to smaller pieces) · lb muelen (to reduce to smaller pieces) · de mahlen (to reduce to smaller pieces) · no raspe (to reduce to smaller pieces) · fi grindata (to produce mechanically and repetitively as if by turning a crank) · ja 磨ぐ (to remove material by rubbing with an abrasive surface) · de feilen (to remove material by rubbing with an abrasive surface) · dsb mlaś (to reduce to smaller pieces) · sv knoga (to work or study hard) · ta அரை (to reduce to smaller pieces) · ru моло́ть (to reduce to smaller pieces) · es tragar (to work or study hard) · sh млети (to reduce to smaller pieces) · sq blu (to shape with the force of friction) · sv slita (to work or study hard) · sv slipas (to become ground, pulverized, or polished by friction) · ms gesek (to reduce to smaller pieces) · es pilar (to work or study hard) · grc ἀλέω (to reduce to smaller pieces) · as পিহা (to reduce to smaller pieces) · es bruñir (to shape with the force of friction) · da kværne (to reduce to smaller pieces) · de grinden (to slide a skateboard or snowboard across an obstacle) · hi पीसना (to reduce to smaller pieces) · mk меле (to reduce to smaller pieces) · da fråde (slang: to eat) · ca remenar el cul (slang: to rotate the hips erotically) · ca polir (to remove material by rubbing with an abrasive surface) · nrf moudre (to reduce to smaller pieces) · mi kuoro (to remove material by rubbing with an abrasive surface) · cs vrtět (slang: to rotate the hips erotically) · de schleifen (to remove material by rubbing with an abrasive surface) · qu allpayachiy (to reduce to smaller pieces) · bg смилам (to reduce to smaller pieces) · ca picolar (to reduce to smaller pieces) · ms giling (to reduce to smaller pieces) · bg меля (to reduce to smaller pieces) · uk товкти́ (to reduce to smaller pieces) · as গুৰি কৰা (to reduce to smaller pieces) · ru шлифова́ть (to remove material by rubbing with an abrasive surface) · it dimenarsi (slang: to rotate the hips erotically) · no male (to reduce to smaller pieces) · fur muldurâ (to reduce to smaller pieces) · pt amolar (to remove material by rubbing with an abrasive surface) · cv авӑр (to reduce to smaller pieces) · chr ᎠᏍᏙᎠ (to reduce to smaller pieces) · vi xay (to reduce to smaller pieces) · hu őröl (to reduce to smaller pieces) · rup matsin (to reduce to smaller pieces) · gl relar (to reduce to smaller pieces) · arz طحن (to reduce to smaller pieces) · ro pisa (to reduce to smaller pieces) · fi grindata (slang: to rotate the hips erotically) · es estudiar intensivamente (to work or study hard) · mi whakanehu (to reduce to smaller pieces) · fi hioa (to shape with the force of friction) · hu zúz (to reduce to smaller pieces) · fi hioa (to remove material by rubbing with an abrasive surface) · mi kanioro (to remove material by rubbing with an abrasive surface) · fr piler (to reduce to smaller pieces) · gd meil (to reduce to smaller pieces) · sq gri (to reduce to smaller pieces) · sa पिनष्टि (to reduce to smaller pieces) · es chirriar (to move with much difficulty or friction) · eo mueli (to reduce to smaller pieces) · no raspe (to remove material by rubbing with an abrasive surface) · fi jauhautua (to become ground, pulverized, or polished by friction) · msk giling (to reduce to smaller pieces) · pt moer (to reduce to smaller pieces) · fur masanâ (to reduce to smaller pieces) · de zermahlen (to reduce to smaller pieces) · sc molere (to reduce to smaller pieces) · es pulir (to remove material by rubbing with an abrasive surface) · ca moldre (to reduce to smaller pieces) · fy mealle (to reduce to smaller pieces) · sv slipa (to remove material by rubbing with an abrasive surface) · mi whakanehu (to become ground, pulverized, or polished by friction) · da nedtrykke (to oppress, hold down or weaken) · pl mleć (to reduce to smaller pieces) · sk mlieť (to reduce to smaller pieces) · es chancar (to work or study hard) · ca triturar (to reduce to smaller pieces) · ka დაფქვა (to reduce to smaller pieces) · ilo giling (to reduce to smaller pieces) · hu porrá tör/zúz (to reduce to smaller pieces) · vec masnar (to reduce to smaller pieces) · de malochen (to work or study hard) · it macinare (to reduce to smaller pieces) · ru отшлифова́ть (to remove material by rubbing with an abrasive surface) · mi tetē (to move with much difficulty or friction) · pt ranger (to move with much difficulty or friction) · fi grindata (to slide a skateboard or snowboard across an obstacle) · cmn 磨 (to reduce to smaller pieces) · mi oro (to remove material by rubbing with an abrasive surface) · mi nenē (to move with much difficulty or friction) · de schuften (to work or study hard) · isd xiling (to reduce to smaller pieces) · nmn gǂkxʻàa (to reduce to smaller pieces) · rup chisedz (to reduce to smaller pieces) · cho fotoli (to reduce to smaller pieces) · mi weku (to remove material by rubbing with an abrasive surface) · es empollar (to work or study hard) · ca esmicolar (to reduce to smaller pieces) · sv mala (to reduce to smaller pieces) · ms kisar (to reduce to smaller pieces) · pt rebolar (slang: to rotate the hips erotically) · cmn 研磨 (to remove material by rubbing with an abrasive surface) · mww zom (to reduce to smaller pieces) · hu porít (to reduce to smaller pieces) · ja 挽く (to reduce to smaller pieces) · sh mleti (to reduce to smaller pieces) · sv knega (to work or study hard) · vi mài (to remove material by rubbing with an abrasive surface) · qu kutay (to reduce to smaller pieces) · got 𐌼𐌰𐌻𐌰𐌽 (to reduce to smaller pieces) · km សង្កិន (to reduce to smaller pieces) · fi sortaa (to oppress, hold down or weaken) · ga meil (to reduce to smaller pieces) · vec maxinar (to reduce to smaller pieces) · da raspe (to remove material by rubbing with an abrasive surface) · hu morzsol (to reduce to smaller pieces) · gl moer (to reduce to smaller pieces) · nl vermalen (to reduce to smaller pieces) · be мало́ць (to reduce to smaller pieces) · fi ahkeroida (to work or study hard) · hu ont (to produce mechanically and repetitively as if by turning a crank) · fi skruudata (slang: to eat) · nds-de mahlen (to reduce to smaller pieces) · lt malti (to reduce to smaller pieces) · fi jauhaa (to instill through repetitive teaching) · oc mòler (to reduce to smaller pieces) · nl schuren (to remove material by rubbing with an abrasive surface) · fi jauhaa (to produce mechanically and repetitively as if by turning a crank) · ru гриндить (to repeat a task in video games) · bg полирам (to remove material by rubbing with an abrasive surface) · ce ахьа (to reduce to smaller pieces) · pt ralar (to work or study hard) · ltg malt (to reduce to smaller pieces) · bg шлифовам (to remove material by rubbing with an abrasive surface) · sl mleti (to reduce to smaller pieces) · no kverne (to reduce to smaller pieces) · it ancheggiare (slang: to rotate the hips erotically) · km រូស (to remove material by rubbing with an abrasive surface) · es chirrear (to move with much difficulty or friction) · bg раздробявам (to reduce to smaller pieces) · ko 갈다 (to reduce to smaller pieces) · mi kuoro (to reduce to smaller pieces) · pl ścierać (to remove material by rubbing with an abrasive surface) · da male (to reduce to smaller pieces) · ca trinxar (to reduce to smaller pieces) · cs mlít (to reduce to smaller pieces) · vec maxnar (to reduce to smaller pieces) · es avanzar (to work or study hard) · fi grindata (to repeat a task in video games)