comminute
/ˈkä-mə-ˌnüt -ˌnyüt/ (ame, mw)
comminute — verb
- comminutepresent simple I / you / we / they
- comminutes3rd person singular
- comminuting-ing form
- comminutedpast simple
1. to break a solid material down into very small fragments, usually by crushing, g
to break a solid material down into very small fragments, usually by crushing, grinding, or pounding it, so that the original chunks become a fine powder, granules, or tiny bits.
The lab technician used a steel mortar to comminute the dried herbs into powder.
transitive: comminute + concrete object (raw material)
Old bones at the dig site had been comminuted by years of river pressure.
passive: be comminuted by [agent]
Sari watched the mill comminute the coffee beans until only soft brown dust remained.
Workers at the recycling plant comminute old glass bottles before melting the pieces down again.
To test the soil, Ravindra had to comminute a dry clump between two flat stones.
- pulverize
More common general word; same idea but used in everyday and scientific writing.
- grind
Everyday word for the same action, especially when using a mill or stones.
- triturate
Also technical, mainly used in chemistry and pharmacy for very fine grinding.
- crush
Broader and more general — does not always produce a fine powder.
- consolidate
Opposite direction: bring small parts together into one solid mass.
- agglomerate
Technical opposite: cause small particles to clump into larger ones.
文法句型
comminute + object
用法筆記
Almost always transitive and almost always passive in real texts. Subjects (when active) are usually machines, tools, or natural forces; objects are solid raw materials such as rock, grain, herbs, bones, or industrial waste — not liquids or gases.