a harsh and strident sound (as of the grinding of gears)
"The old car made a terrible grinding noise as it climbed the steep hill."
The action of grinding together or crushing into small particles.
"The old millstone was worn down from years of grinding grain between its heavy surfaces."
In plain English: Grinding is when you work very hard and consistently to achieve something important.
"The grinding noise from his teeth kept him awake all night."
Usage: Avoid using this noun as a verb; instead, use "grind" when describing the action itself. It is also distinct from the adjective form, which describes something related to the process rather than the physical result.
present participle of grind
"The coffee beans are grinding slowly under the pressure of the burrs."
In plain English: To grind means to crush something into small pieces by rubbing it back and forth against another surface.
"He spent all afternoon grinding coffee beans for his morning routine."
Of or pertaining to the act or sound of grinding.
"The loud, rhythmic grinding from the gears echoed through the workshop as he tightened the bolts."
In plain English: Grinding describes something that is harsh, rough, and unpleasant to deal with.
"He has been grinding for weeks without any sleep."
The word grinding comes directly from the Middle English term gryndynge. It entered modern usage as a standard present participle formed by adding the suffix -ing to the verb "grind."