grindstone

grindstone

1. 

a. a machine having a circular block of stone or composite abrasive rotated for sharpening tools or grinding metal

b. the stone used in this machine

c. any stone used for sharpening; whetstone

2. another name for millstone

Collins Discovery Encyclopedia, 1st edition © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

grindstone

[′grīnd‚stōn]

(engineering)

A stone disk on a revolving axle, used for grinding, smoothing, and shaping.

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

grindstone

A rotating solid stone wheel (usually sandstone) used for grinding, shaping, sharpening, or polishing.

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Architecture and Construction. Copyright © 2003 by McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

grindstone

or grind common metaphor for industriousness. [Pop. Culture: Misc.]

See: Industriousness

Allusions—Cultural, Literary, Biblical, and Historical: A Thematic Dictionary. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.