mill
4 synonyms and 0 antonyms for mill, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A machine, or the building housing it, used to grind grain into flour.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use mill
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old English mylen, borrowed from Late Latin molīnum, "mill," itself from Latin molō, "I grind."
Full origin of mill →Frequently asked questions
What does “mill” mean?
The word “mill” means a machine, or the building housing it, used to grind grain into flour. In plain terms, a machine or factory that grinds or processes raw material, or, as a verb, to grind material — or for a crowd, to wander about without direction.
How do you pronounce “mill”?
“Mill” is pronounced mih ([mɪɫ] in IPA).
How do you use “mill” in a sentence?
Here is “mill” used in a sentence: “The old watermill still grinds wheat for the village bakery.”
What part of speech is “mill”?
Depending on how it is used, “mill” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “mill” come from?
The word “mill” comes from Late Latin. From Old English mylen, borrowed from Late Latin molīnum, "mill," itself from Latin molō, "I grind.".
Is “mill” a common word?
“Mill” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “mill” have?
“Mill” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a machine, or the building housing it, used to grind grain into flour.
What is the difference between a mill and a factory?
A mill is traditionally a machine, or the building housing it, that grinds grain into flour, and by extension a factory that processes a raw material such as paper, steel, or cloth. Factory is the broader word for any building where goods are made. Industries that process raw materials often keep the older word: steel mill, paper mill, cotton mill.
What is the difference between a mill and a grinder?
A grinder is typically a small device or tool for grinding something, such as coffee or spices. A mill can be a small device too (a pepper mill), but it can also be a large machine or an entire building used to grind grain into flour or to process raw materials on an industrial scale.