grinding

1. gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of grind

plural grindings

1. countableuncountableThe action of grinding together or crushing into small particles; the sound of this action.

   Ominous creakings and grindings came from the innards of the machine.

2. countableuncountablerepairbusinessThe action of grinding a workpiece to change its size, shape, and surface finish.

   Grinding sometimes involves tight tolerances on the order of a few microns.

3. countableuncountabledanceA form of dance in which two people rub their bodies together.

   No grinding is allowed on the dance floor at the junior prom: it isn't age-appropriate.

4. countableuncountableroleplaying gamesgamesRepeatedly performing the same quest or similar in-game activity in order to amass points or wealth.

   I really hate the grinding to get that 1% chance item.

5. countableinformaluncountablebusinessThe act of doing the daily grind.

   A: Hey Bob, how's it goin? B: Meh, I'm tired of grinding, man.

1. not comparableOf or pertaining to the act or gratingly sound of grinding.

   The meeting came to a grinding halt when the two sides could not agree.

2. not comparableRelentlessly taxing; burdensome; exacting to the point of exhaustion.

   A week of filled with grinding toil.

   1 more example

   I saw none of the grinding poverty to which I had become inured, no beggars, no one passed out in the streets or homeless people forced to camp out in parks and doorways.

   1983 April 16, John Kyper, “Cuba: A Little Sex, No Drugs, and Lotsa Rock 'n Roll”, in Gay Community News, page 8

3. not comparableobsoleteCrushing; oppressive; overwhelming.