GRIT (gritted, gritting)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

Irregular inflected forms: gritted    , gritting   

 Dictionary entry overview: What does grit mean? 

• GRIT (noun)
  The noun GRIT has 2 senses:

1. a hard coarse-grained siliceous sandstone

2. fortitude and determination

  Familiarity information: GRIT used as a noun is rare.

• GRIT (verb)
  The verb GRIT has 2 senses:

1. cover with a grit

2. clench together

  Familiarity information: GRIT used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• GRIT (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A hard coarse-grained siliceous sandstone

Classified under:

Nouns denoting substances

Synonyms:

grit; gritrock; gritstone

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

sandstone (a sedimentary rock consisting of sand consolidated with some cement (clay or quartz etc.))

Derivation:

grit (cover with a grit)

gritty (composed of or covered with particles resembling meal in texture or consistency)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Fortitude and determination

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

backbone; grit; gumption; guts; moxie; sand

Context example:

he didn't have the guts to try it

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

fortitude (strength of mind that enables one to endure adversity with courage)

Domain usage:

colloquialism (a colloquial expression; characteristic of spoken or written communication that seeks to imitate informal speech)

Derivation:

gritty (willing to face danger)

• GRIT (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they grit    ... he / she / it grits   
Past simple: gritted   
Past participle: gritted   
-ing form: gritting   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Cover with a grit

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Context example:

grit roads

Hypernyms (to "grit" is one way to...):

coat; surface (put a coat on; cover the surface of; furnish with a surface)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

grit (a hard coarse-grained siliceous sandstone)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Clench together

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Context example:

grit one's teeth

Hypernyms (to "grit" is one way to...):

clench (squeeze together tightly)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

 Context examples 

He was in perfect condition, without an ounce of superfluous flesh, and the one hundred and fifty pounds that he weighed were so many pounds of grit and virility.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

Martin did not laugh; nor did he grit his teeth in anger.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

“Oh, ’ow I ’ate ’im! ’Ow I ’ate ’im!” he gritted out.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

In her daily ministrations upon the prisoner she was forced to grit her teeth and steel herself, body and spirit.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

It is just as that dear, good Professor Van Helsing said: he is true grit, and he improves under strain that would kill a weaker nature.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Grit in a sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a nature such as his.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

From each of 2,928 children, the researchers collected data about napping frequency and duration once the children hit Grades 4 through 6, as well as outcome data when they reached Grade 6, including psychological measures like grit and happiness and physical measures such as body mass index and glucose levels.

(Children Who Nap Are Happier, Have Higher IQ, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

I suppose he saw something in my face which checked him, for he suddenly stopped, and said with a sort of manly fervour that I could have loved him for if I had been free:—'Lucy, you are an honest-hearted girl, I know. I should not be here speaking to you as I am now if I did not believe you clean grit, right through to the very depths of your soul. Tell me, like one good fellow to another, is there any one else that you care for? And if there is I'll never trouble you a hair's breadth again, but will be, if you will let me, a very faithful friend.'

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

A study of nearly 3,000 fourth, fifth, and sixth graders ages 10-12 revealed a connection between midday napping and greater happiness, self-control, and grit; fewer behavioral problems; and higher IQ, the latter particularly for the sixth graders.

(Children Who Nap Are Happier, Have Higher IQ, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)