GRINDSTONE

Pronunciation (US):

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does grindstone mean? 

• GRINDSTONE (noun)
  The noun GRINDSTONE has 1 sense:

1. a revolving stone shaped like a disk; used to grind or sharpen or polish edge tools

  Familiarity information: GRINDSTONE used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• GRINDSTONE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A revolving stone shaped like a disk; used to grind or sharpen or polish edge tools

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("grindstone" is a kind of...):

sharpener (any implement that is used to make something (an edge or a point) sharper)

stone (building material consisting of a piece of rock hewn in a definite shape for a special purpose)

 Context examples 

“Clever! She brings everything to a grindstone,” said Steerforth, and sharpens it, as she has sharpened her own face and figure these years past.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Therefore it was decided to start upon their journey the next morning, and the Woodman sharpened his axe on a green grindstone and had all his joints properly oiled.

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

Also a dress of blue sendall for mother and a red one for Joan; with five acres of pasture-land, two scythes, and a fine new grindstone.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Why, you must turn grinder like myself, said the other; you only want a grindstone; the rest will come of itself.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

It was rusty and dull, but I turned the grindstone while Louis gave it an edge.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

I told you she took everything, herself included, to a grindstone, and sharpened it.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

This man, my fair lord, means to me a new house, ten cows, one bull—if it be but a little one—a grindstone, and I know not what besides; so that I thought it well to sit upon him, lest he should take a fancy to leave me.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)