grinder

noun

grind·​er ˈgrīn-dər How to pronounce grinder (audio)
1
a
: molar
b
grinders plural : teeth
2
: one that grinds
3
: a machine or device for grinding
4
5
: an athlete who succeeds through hard work and determination rather than exceptional skill

Examples of grinder in a Sentence

ordered a meatball grinder from the beach's concession stand
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
It was built by moonshiners, mechanics, grinders, and geniuses who knew that winning meant everything. Greg Engle, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025 Use a spice grinder to blitz the mushrooms before mixing them with the rub ingredients to create a paste consistency. Lynda Balslev, Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2025 Sharpening a knife on a belt grinder requires multiple stages of sharpening and honing with different levels of abrasive belts, and this model only comes with one. Jesse Raub, Bon Appetit Magazine, 7 Apr. 2025 The wide top surface can easily accommodate a full espresso setup with room left over for a tray of syrups and a grinder. Bailey Berg, Architectural Digest, 2 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for grinder

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of grinder was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Grinder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grinder. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

grinder

noun
grind·​er ˈgrīn-dər How to pronounce grinder (audio)
1
: one that grinds
2
: a large sandwich on a long split roll

More from Merriam-Webster on grinder

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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