grind
grind — noun
1. the size of the small particles produced when coffee beans or other dry ingredie
the size of the small particles produced when coffee beans or other dry ingredients are crushed — for example, a fine grind for espresso and a coarse grind for a French press.
The barista adjusted the grind to a finer setting for the espresso machine.
fine grind + espresso machine
For a French press, you need a coarse grind so the water can flow through easily.
coarse grind + French press
Liang bought a bag of pre-ground coffee, but the grind was too fine for his drip maker.
Different brewing methods require different grinds, from powder-fine to chunky.
- granulation
more technical, used in manufacturing or pharmacy contexts
- texture
broader term that includes grind size but also other qualities like softness
文法句型
adjective + grind
fine/coarse grind
用法筆記
Often paired with adjectives like 'fine,' 'coarse,' 'medium,' or 'uniform' to describe the particle size.
常見錯誤
2. the act of crushing or rubbing something into small pieces or powder, using a ma
the act of crushing or rubbing something into small pieces or powder, using a machine or by hand.
The steady grind of the pepper mill filled the quiet kitchen.
With one final grind of the pestle, the spices were ready for the curry.
a (final) grind of + tool
The old mill used a heavy stone wheel whose slow grind could be heard across the valley.
A quick grind of fresh black pepper improved the taste of the soup.
文法句型
the grind of + noun
a + adjective + grind
用法筆記
Often used with 'of' followed by the tool or substance being ground, e.g. 'a grind of the mill' or 'the grind of metal against stone.'
3. work or study that is tiring, repetitive, and demands continuous effort over a l
work or study that is tiring, repetitive, and demands continuous effort over a long period.
The daily grind of commuting two hours each way wore Talia down.
the daily grind of + noun phrase
For many office workers, the nine-to-five grind leaves little time for hobbies.
the nine-to-five grind
Christopher found the grind of preparing for medical school exams almost unbearable.
The weekend break was a welcome escape from the usual grind of deadlines and reports.
文法句型
the + adjective + grind
the daily grind
noun + grind
用法筆記
Very common in fixed phrases like 'the daily grind' and 'the nine-to-five grind,' especially when describing routine work life.
常見錯誤
4. a student who is seen as socially awkward or boring because they spend almost al
a student who is seen as socially awkward or boring because they spend almost all their time studying instead of socialising.
In high school, the other kids called him a grind for spending every lunch in the library.
informal: called someone a grind
The film portrays the main character as a lonely grind who never goes to parties.
Élise didn't mind being called a grind — she knew her hard work would pay off eventually.
The old stereotype of a grind as a student with thick glasses and no friends has mostly faded.
- slacker
someone who avoids work or study
文法句型
a + adjective + grind
用法筆記
Somewhat dated US slang from the mid-20th century. Less common today; replaced in modern usage by terms like 'nerd' or 'geek,' which have lost much of their negative edge.
常見錯誤
5. extra teaching sessions that students attend outside regular school hours, espec
extra teaching sessions that students attend outside regular school hours, especially to prepare for important exams; often refers to a specialised school or programme focused on exam preparation.
In Taipei, many high school students attend grind schools every evening to prepare for the university entrance exam.
grind school: exam prep context
Yasmin's parents enrolled her in a Saturday grind for math and English.
The grind industry in East Asia is huge, with some students studying until ten at night.
A good grind teacher can explain difficult concepts more clearly than a crowded classroom allows.
- cram school
more widely understood internationally for exam-focused private academies
- tutoring
broader term, can be one-on-one or small group
文法句型
a grind + in + subject
go to grind
grind school
用法筆記
Common in East Asian contexts where after-school 'cram schools' or 'buxiban' (補習班) are a normal part of student life. In other regions, the term is less familiar.
grind — verb
1. to reduce a solid material to small particles or fine powder through pressing, r
to reduce a solid material to small particles or fine powder through pressing, rubbing, or using a device such as a mill.
Amihan ground the coffee beans by hand with an old wooden mill.
grind + beans + by hand
The wheat is ground into flour at the local mill before being shipped to bakeries.
passive: be ground into + product
Freshly ground black pepper has a much stronger aroma than the pre-ground kind.
In the laboratory, the rock samples were ground into a fine powder for testing.
You can grind almonds into a powder to make gluten-free flour for baking.
- lump
to form into lumps or clumps, the opposite of grinding smooth
文法句型
grind + noun + into/up
grind + adverb (finely/coarsely)
be ground + into/to
用法筆記
Irregular past form: ground (not 'grinded'). Frequently used in passive constructions when describing industrial or laboratory processes. Often followed by 'into' to specify the resulting form ('grind into flour/powder').
常見錯誤
2. to sharpen or polish a blade or surface by pressing it onto a spinning abrasive
to sharpen or polish a blade or surface by pressing it onto a spinning abrasive disc or stone.
The chef ground his kitchen knives on a whetstone before each service.
grind + knives + on + (sharpening stone)
Ravindra spent the afternoon grinding the rough edges off the marble countertop.
Lenses for telescopes must be ground to an extremely precise curve.
A diamond wheel is used to grind the hardest industrial tools to a razor edge.
- dull
to make a blade less sharp
文法句型
grind + noun (blade/tool/lens) + on/against
grind + noun + to + adjective (sharp/smooth)
用法筆記
For sharpening, 'grind' implies using an abrasive surface (a stone, wheel, or belt) — different from 'hone' (fine-tuning an already sharp edge) or 'strop' (polishing with leather).
常見錯誤
3. to rub your upper and lower teeth together, especially while asleep or when feel
to rub your upper and lower teeth together, especially while asleep or when feeling stress or anger, often producing a scraping or grating sound.
The dentist noticed that Elena had been grinding her teeth at night and recommended a mouthguard.
grind + one's + teeth + at night (sleep bruxism)
Whenever Emre felt anxious about an exam, he would unconsciously grind his teeth.
My roommate grinds her teeth so loudly at night that I can hear it through the wall.
Long-term teeth grinding can damage the enamel and cause jaw pain.
文法句型
grind + one's + teeth
grind + adverb (noisily/unconsciously)
用法筆記
The medical term for habitual teeth grinding is 'bruxism.' This sense is almost always used reflexively with 'one's teeth' ('grind one's teeth'). The metaphorical expression 'grind your teeth' (to express frustration without speaking) is a related but distinct usage.
常見錯誤
4. in computer or role-playing games, to go through the same tasks, battles, or are
in computer or role-playing games, to go through the same tasks, battles, or areas repeatedly so that your character earns experience points, virtual money, or rare items.
Olivia spent the whole weekend grinding in the forest to reach level fifty.
grind + in + (area) + to reach + (level)
Many players grind for rare equipment instead of buying it from the in-game store.
grind + for + (reward)
The game's final boss was so tough that Ava had to grind for another ten hours before attempting it again.
Some gamers find grinding relaxing, while others consider it a boring chore.
- speedrun
completing a game as fast as possible, the opposite of the repetitive focus of grinding
文法句型
grind + for (experience/levels/items)
grind + through (dungeon/area)
grind + noun (dungeon/boss)
用法筆記
Gaming slang that originated in early online RPGs and MMOs. The noun form ('grinding') is also very common ('I spent the evening doing some grinding'). In Taiwanese gaming communities, equivalent terms include '練功' (lit. 'practice kung fu') and '刷' ('刷副本' = grinding dungeons).
常見錯誤
5. to work slowly, steadily, and with great effort on a task that is repetitive, bo
to work slowly, steadily, and with great effort on a task that is repetitive, boring, or mentally draining, often over a long period.
Liang ground away at his math homework until midnight every night.
grind away at + work
The research team ground through thousands of pages of census data looking for population trends.
grind through + (large material)
Adina ground away at the translation project for months before it was finally complete.
Instead of taking a break, Christopher just ground on with his revision until the exam was over.
- coast
to proceed without effort, the opposite of grinding through work
文法句型
grind + away + at + noun
grind + through + noun
grind + on
用法筆記
Often used with the particles 'away' or 'on' to emphasise the duration and difficulty ('grind away at,' 'grind on with'). The past tense 'ground' is standard here (not 'grinded').