grinding

From Middle English gryndynge, equivalent to grind +‎ -ing.

• IPA^(key): /ˈɡɹaɪndɪŋ/
• Rhymes: -aɪndɪŋ

grinding

1. present participle and gerund of grind

grinding (countable and uncountable, plural grindings)

1. The action of grinding together or crushing into small particles.

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

2. (dance) A form of dance in which two people rub their bodies together.
3. (roleplaying games, gaming) Repeatedly performing the same quest or similar in-game activity in order to amass points or wealth.

grinding (not comparable)

1. Of or pertaining to the act or sound of grinding.

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

2. Relentlessly taxing; burdensome; exacting to the point of exhaustion.

   A week of filled with grinding toil.

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

     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.

3. (obsolete) Crushing; oppressive; overwhelming.

• grindingly

• dringing