■ verb ( past and past participle ground )
1》 reduce to small particles or powder by crushing.
2》 sharpen, smooth, or produce by crushing or friction.
↘operate (a mill or machine) by turning the handle.
3》 rub together gratingly.
↘press or rub (something) into a surface.
4》 move noisily and laboriously.
↘( ~ something out ) produce something laboriously.
↘(often ~ away ) work or study hard.
5》 ( ~ someone down ) wear someone down with harsh treatment.
↘[as adjective ~ing ] oppressive and seemingly endless: ~ing poverty.
6》 informal (of a dancer) rotate the hips erotically.
■ noun
1》 an act or process of ~ing.
2》 hard dull work: the daily ~.
↘ US informal an excessively hard-working student.
Phrases
~ to a halt (or come to a ~ing halt ) slow down gradually and then stop completely.
Derivatives
~er noun
~ingly adverb
Origin
OE ~an , prob. of Gmc origin.