grind up

Meanings

1. 1verbtransitive

   To crush something into very small pieces or powder using a machine or tool.

   Grammar: Takes an object; the object can go between 'grind' and 'up'.

   Patterns

   • grind up something
   • grind something up
   • grind up something into something

   She ground up the coffee beans before brewing.

   Grind the nuts up finely and add them to the batter.

   The machine grinds up old tires into rubber crumbs.

2. 2verbtransitive

   To reduce something to a powder or paste by crushing.

   Grammar: Often used in cooking and industrial contexts.

   Patterns

   • grind up something into a powder
   • grind up something to make something

   The spices were ground up into a fine powder.

   They grind up the corn to make flour.

Word forms

Common combinations

grind up coffee beans

I grind up coffee beans every morning.

grind up spices

You should grind up the spices just before cooking.

grind up into powder

The seeds are ground up into powder.

grind up finely

Grind the mixture up finely.

Synonyms and how they differ

crush

To press something hard so it breaks into pieces, but not necessarily into powder.

pulverize

A stronger, more formal word meaning to reduce to dust or powder.

mill

To grind grain into flour, often in a mill.

Word family

grinder noun

A machine or tool used for grinding.

grinding noun

The act of crushing something into small pieces.

Commonly confused: grind up or ground up?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “grind up”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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