Easton's Bible Dictionary

(Exodus 32:20; Deuteronomy 9:21; Judges 16:21), to crush small (Hebrews tahan); to oppress the poor (Isaiah 3:5). The hand-mill was early used by the Hebrews (Numbers 11:8). It consisted of two stones, the upper (Deuteronomy 24:6; 2 Samuel 11:21) being movable and slightly concave, the lower being stationary. The grinders mentioned Ecclesiastes 12:3 are the teeth. (see MILL.)

Noah Webster's New International Dictionary of the English Language

1. (v. t.) To reduce to powder by friction, as in a mill, or with the teeth; to crush into small fragments; to produce as by the action of millstones.

2. (v. t.) To wear down, polish, or sharpen, by friction; to make smooth, sharp, or pointed; to whet, as a knife or drill; to rub against one another, as teeth, etc.

3. (v. t.) To oppress by severe exactions; to harass.

4. (v. t.) To study hard for examination.

5. (v. i.) To perform the operation of grinding something; to turn the millstones.

6. (v. i.) To become ground or pulverized by friction; as, this corn grinds well.

7. (v. i.) To become polished or sharpened by friction; as, glass grinds smooth; steel grinds to a sharp edge.

8. (v. i.) To move with much difficulty or friction; to grate.

9. (v. i.) To perform hard and distasteful service; to drudge; to study hard, as for an examination.

10. (n.) The act of reducing to powder, or of sharpening, by friction.

11. (n.) Any severe continuous work or occupation; esp., hard and uninteresting study.

12. (n.) A hard student; a dig.