Grindstone - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
A grindstone is a rotating stone wheel used for sharpening tools or shaping metal by friction. It is also a metaphor for hard, continuous work, as in keeping one's nose to the grindstone.
Definition:
A revolving stone disk used for sharpening, grinding, or polishing tools.
Synonyms:
whetstone, sharpener, abrasive stone
Part of Speech:
noun
Antonyms:
duller, blunt object
Common Collocations:
keep nose to the grindstone, sharpening tools, grinding edge
Derivatives:
grindstones (plural), grindstoning (gerund)
Usage Tips:
Use "grindstone" literally for sharpening tools or metaphorically for hard work ("keep your nose to the grindstone").
Common Phrases:
keep one's nose to the grindstone, back to the grindstone
Etymology:
From Old English "grindan" (to grind) + "stān" (stone), referring to its function.
Examples:
- 1. He sharpened his knife on the grindstone carefully.
- 2. She kept her nose to the grindstone to finish the project on time.
- 3. The blacksmith used a grindstone to polish the metal edges.
- 4. After vacation, it was hard to get back to the grindstone.