milled

IPA/mɪld/
KK[mˈɪld]IPA/mɪld/

milled — adjective

  • milledpositive
  • milledercomparative
  • milledestsuperlative

1. processed in a mill until the material becomes flour or a fine dry powder.

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

processed in a mill until the material becomes flour or a fine dry powder.

Example

The baker used finely milled wheat for the soft sandwich loaves.

collocation: finely milled wheat or flour

Trang bought milled almonds to mix into the cake batter.

Common collocations
  • finely milled flour
  • milled wheat
  • milled corn
  • milled grain
  • milled spices
Synonyms
  • ground

    the broad everyday word for material broken into smaller pieces

  • powdered

    focuses on a very fine, dry result rather than the milling process

  • crushed

    often suggests rougher, less even pieces than milled

Antonyms
  • whole

    not broken up or processed into smaller pieces

  • coarse

    not reduced to a fine texture

Grammar Patterns

finely milled flour

milled grain

milled spices

Usage Note

Usually appears before a noun in food or farming contexts, especially with grain, flour, corn, nuts, or spices. Distinguish from senses 2 and 3, which are mainly used when talking about coins.

Common Mistakes

The recipe needs whole beans, not milled beans.
The recipe needs milled coffee, not whole beans.
milled means the beans have already been ground down.

2. describing a coin that was made by machine with dies instead of being struck by

2.adjectiveC1
Definition

describing a coin that was made by machine with dies instead of being struck by hand.

Example

The guide showed us a milled coin beside an older hammered one.

contrast: milled coin vs hammered coin

At the auction, the milled penny sold for twice the estimate.

Common collocations
  • milled coin
  • milled silver coin
  • milled penny
  • milled token
  • milled issue
Synonyms
  • machine-made

    broad modern term and not limited to coins

  • struck

    coin-specific, but often focuses on the act of stamping rather than the contrast with hand-made coins

  • minted

    broader and can refer to coin production without emphasizing the machine method

Antonyms
  • hammered

    made by hand striking rather than by machine

  • hand-struck

    explicitly contrasts with machine production

Grammar Patterns

a milled coin

milled silver coins

milled penny

Usage Note

Used for the whole coin in numismatic or historical writing. Distinguish from sense 3, which describes only the lined edge rather than the method used to make the entire coin.

Common Mistakes

The dealer said the milled edge coin was rare.
The dealer said the milled coin was rare.
use this sense for the whole coin, not just one part of it.

3. used for a coin edge marked with many narrow lines running around the side.

3.adjectiveC1
Definition

used for a coin edge marked with many narrow lines running around the side.

Example

The jeweller checked the milled edge before setting the old coin.

collocation: milled edge

A smooth fake stood out beside the milled edge of the real coin.

contrast: smooth edge vs milled edge

Common collocations
  • milled edge
  • milled rim
  • milled border
  • sharp milled edge
  • photograph the milled edge
Synonyms
  • ridged

    general word for something marked with raised or cut lines

  • reeded

    technical coin-collecting term for a lined coin edge

  • grooved

    broader and less coin-specific than milled

Antonyms
  • smooth-edged

    without cut lines around the side

  • plain

    describes an edge with no decorative or security marking

Grammar Patterns

milled edge

milled rim

milled border

Usage Note

Almost always describes the edge or rim of a coin. Distinguish from sense 2, where milled describes the whole coin rather than the marked edge.

Common Mistakes

The buyer checked whether the coin was milled.
The buyer checked whether the coin had a milled edge.
this sense normally describes the edge or rim, not the whole coin.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

These words all describe material broken into smaller pieces, but they do not match exactly. 'Milled' usually suggests grain, seeds, or other food processed in a mill, often until the result is even and ready for cooking. 'Ground' is the broad everyday word and works for coffee, pepper, meat, or stone. 'Powdered' focuses on the final texture: very fine, soft, and dry. 'Crushed' usually suggests larger, rougher pieces and less even size. So milled corn is processed for food, ground coffee is ready to brew, powdered sugar is extra fine, and crushed ice still has clear chunks.

milled ↗ground ↗powdered ↗crushed ↗

Etymology

LatinOld EnglishModern English

Milled comes from the verb 'mill', which goes back through Old English to a Latin word connected with a millstone and grinding grain. The oldest idea is turning grain between stones to make flour. From that physical process, English later extended milled to coin-making, first for coins produced by machinery and then for the lined edge that such machinery could cut.