Grinds — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun phrase /ˈgrīnd/

Meaning & Definition of Grinds

Grinds (verb)

  1. to reduce to powder or small fragments by friction (as in a mill or with the teeth)
  2. to wear down, polish, or sharpen by friction
  3. oppress, harass
  4. to make (something hard) smaller and smoother by gradual rubbing
  5. to weaken or destroy gradually
  6. to continue for a long time
  7. to produce in a mechanical way
  8. to continue in a slow and steady way
  9. to continue moving down or along (something) in a slow and steady way
  10. to work or study in a steady, determined way
  11. to remove (a part of something) by rubbing something rough against it

Grinds (noun)

  1. an act of grinding
  2. the sound of grinding
  3. dreary, monotonous, or difficult labor, study, or routine

Grinds (phrase)

  1. to stop working or moving forward —often used figuratively

Grinds (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a harsh grating sound

    "the grind of ice in the blender sent the cat running from the room"

  2. a person slavishly devoted to intellectual or academic pursuits

    "don't be such a grind—go out with your friends and enjoy yourself"

    similar: bookworms, dinks (slang), dorks (slang), geeks, nerds, swots (British), weenies, wonks
  3. very hard or unpleasant work

    "yard work is a real grind"

    opposite: fun, plays
  4. an established and often automatic or monotonous series of actions followed when engaging in some activity

    "the daily grind of a 50-mile commute was getting old"

Grinds (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to make smooth by friction

    "after they are ground and polished, these stones can be used for jewelry"

  2. to press or strike against or together so as to make a scraping sound

    "everyone in the car winced when the driver ground the gears trying to shift into second"

  3. to make sharp or sharper

    "better grind down that ax before you even think about trying to cut down that tree"

    related: files
    opposite: blunts, dulls
  4. to make smooth or glossy usually by repeatedly applying surface pressure

    "used the finest polishing paper he could to grind down the facets of the diamond before dusting it with a soft cloth"

  5. to pass roughly and noisily over or against a surface

    "ground the rock against the stone wall"

    related: rubs, groans, whines
  6. to reduce to fine particles

    "grind whole coffee beans if you want the freshest coffee"

Related Entry: Grind (noun)

Grind is a different word from Grinds. The synonyms below are for grind, not for grinds.

  1. a harsh grating sound

    "the grind of ice in the blender sent the cat running from the room"

    similar: creak, jar, rasp, scrape, scratch
  2. a person slavishly devoted to intellectual or academic pursuits

    "don't be such a grind—go out with your friends and enjoy yourself"

    similar: bookworm, dink (slang), dork (slang), geek, nerd, swot (British), weenie, wonk
  3. very hard or unpleasant work

    "yard work is a real grind"

    opposite: fun, play
  4. an established and often automatic or monotonous series of actions followed when engaging in some activity

    "the daily grind of a 50-mile commute was getting old"

Related Entry: Grind (verb)

Grind is a different word from Grinds. The synonyms below are for grind, not for grinds.

  1. to make smooth by friction

    "after they are ground and polished, these stones can be used for jewelry"

    similar: buff, file, hone, rasp, rub, sand
  2. to press or strike against or together so as to make a scraping sound

    "everyone in the car winced when the driver ground the gears trying to shift into second"

  3. to make sharp or sharper

    "better grind down that ax before you even think about trying to cut down that tree"

    related: file
    opposite: blunt, dull
  4. to make smooth or glossy usually by repeatedly applying surface pressure

    "used the finest polishing paper he could to grind down the facets of the diamond before dusting it with a soft cloth"

  5. to pass roughly and noisily over or against a surface

    "ground the rock against the stone wall"

    similar: grate, rasp, scrape, scratch
    related: rub, groan, whine
    near: glide, skate, slide
  6. to reduce to fine particles

    "grind whole coffee beans if you want the freshest coffee"

Related Entry: Grind (down) (verb)

Grind (down) is a different word from Grinds. The synonyms below are for grind (down), not for grinds.

  1. to subject to incapacitating emotional or mental stress

    "the workers are being ground down by the long work hours which leave them little time for anything else"

Related Entry: Grind (out) (verb)

Grind (out) is a different word from Grinds. The synonyms below are for grind (out), not for grinds.

  1. to produce or bring about especially by long or repeated effort

    "after several years of aborted attempts, the band finally ground out a new album"

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Grinds

The most common words with a similar meaning to Grinds:

Slang: dinks, dorks
British: swots

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Grinds

Words with the opposite meaning of Grinds:

Near Antonyms of Grinds

Word Forms of Grinds

Inflections: ground, grinding, ground down, grinding down, grinds down, ground on, grinding on, grinds on, ground out, grinding out, grinds out, ground along, grinding along, grinds along, ground away, grinding away, grinds away

Derived words: grindingly (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Grinds

Middle English, from Old English grindan; akin to Latin frendere to crush, grind

First known use: before 12th centuryt

Frequently Asked Questions about Grinds

What does "Grinds" mean?

"Grinds" means to reduce to powder or small fragments by friction (as in a mill or with the teeth). As an a verb, a noun and a phrase, it is defined as: to reduce to powder or small fragments by friction (as in a mill or with the teeth). It has 10 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Grinds"?

Other words for "Grinds" include creaks, jars, rasps, scrapes, scratches, bookworms, dinks and dorks. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Grinds" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Grinds"?

There are 158 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Grinds". Common alternatives include creaks, jars, rasps, scrapes, scratches, bookworms, dinks, dorks, geeks and nerds.

What is the opposite of "Grinds"?

Antonyms of "Grinds" include fun, plays, blunts and dulls. Near antonyms include goldbricks, goof-offs, slackers and underachievers.

How do you use "Grinds" in a sentence?

Examples of "Grinds" in a sentence: "the grind of ice in the blender sent the cat running from the room"; "don't be such a grind—go out with your friends and enjoy yourself"; "yard work is a real grind".

Is "Grinds" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Grinds" can be used as a verb, a noun and a phrase, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Grinds"?

"Grinds" is pronounced /ˈgrīnd/.

What is the origin of the word "Grinds"?

"Grinds" comes from Middle English, from Old English grindan; akin to Latin frendere to crush, grind. First known use: before 12th centuryt.