noun
Millstone
Millstone (noun) means a large, heavy circular stone used, often in a pair, to grind grain into flour. Example: “The old mill still has its original millstone on display.”
noun
1
A large, heavy circular stone used, often in a pair, to grind grain into flour.
"We can tell what Australopithecines ate from the remains of their jaws and teeth. The earliest finds show teeth which are large and round like millstones – acting as grinding and pulverizing machines for fibrous vegetation."
— Colin Spencer, Aquatic Ape Theory. How Early Did Fish Enter the Diet? (1998)
"The old mill still has its original millstone on display."
2
Figuratively, a heavy burden or ongoing responsibility that weighs someone down.
"The debt became a millstone around his neck."
How to use Millstone
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither the literal grinding stone in a mill, or, figuratively, a heavy problem that drags someone down.
Common pairings
a millstone around your neck
grind between millstones
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The old mill still has its original _____ on display.
Etymology
A compound of mill and stone, describing the stone wheel used for grinding.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for Millstone
See all rhymes for Millstone →Frequently asked questions
What does “Millstone” mean?
The word “Millstone” means a large, heavy circular stone used, often in a pair, to grind grain into flour. In plain terms, either the literal grinding stone in a mill, or, figuratively, a heavy problem that drags someone down.
How do you use “Millstone” in a sentence?
Here is “Millstone” used in a sentence: “The old mill still has its original millstone on display.”
What part of speech is “Millstone”?
“Millstone” is a noun.
How many meanings does “Millstone” have?
“Millstone” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a large, heavy circular stone used, often in a pair, to grind grain into flour.
