triturate

• POS: Noun, Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: trit=u=rate

CIDE DICTIONARY

triturate, v. t. [L. trituratus, p. p. of triturate to thrash (grain), fr. terere, tritum, to rub, rub to pieces. See Trite.].

•  To rub, grind, bruise, or thrash.  [1913 Webster]
•  To rub or grind to a very fine or impalpable powder; to pulverize and comminute thoroughly.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

triturate, v.tr.
1 grind to a fine powder.
2 masticate thoroughly.

Derivative

triturable adj. trituration n. triturator n.

Etymology

L triturare thresh corn f. tritura rubbing (as TRITE)

ROGET THESAURUS

triturate

Pulverulence

VB come to dust, be disintegrated, be reduced to powder reduce to powder, grind to powder, pulverize, comminute, granulate, triturate, levigate, scrape, file, abrade, rub down, grind, grate, rasp, pound, bray, bruise, contuse, contund, beat, crush, cranch, craunch, crunch, scranch, crumble, disintegrate, attenuate.