/ mɪl; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
1.
a building fitted with machinery for grinding grain into flour
—see also watermill , windmill
2.
(often in compounds) a factory that produces a particular type of material :
a cotton / cloth / steel / paper mill
mill owners / workers
—see also rolling mill , sawmill ➡ note at factory
3.
(often in compounds) a small machine for crushing or grinding a solid substance into powder :
a pepper mill
—see also run-of-the-mill , treadmill
•
IDIOMS
- go through the mill | put sb through the mill
—more at grist
■ verb
[ vn ] [ often passive ] to crush or grind sth in a mill
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- mill around
—see also milling
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English mylen , based on late Latin molinum , from Latin mola grindstone, mill, from molere to grind.