muller

/'mʌlə/

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The word "muller" can have a few different meanings depending on the context in which it is used. Let's break it down for a new English learner:

Basic Definition:

As a noun:
- A muller is a tool used in cooking and crafting. It is often made of heavy stone or iron and has a flat base with a handle. People use it to grind and mix materials, such as grains, drugs, or pigments, by pressing them against a flat surface, usually a slab of stone.
- In cooking, a muller can also refer to a vessel where wine is mulled (heated with spices), though this usage is less common.

Example Sentence:

"The chef used a muller to grind the spices before adding them to the stew."
"We used a muller to warm the wine with cinnamon and cloves for the holiday party."

Advanced Usage:

In a more scientific or technical context, the term "muller" can refer to specific historical figures in genetics and philology, or it can denote certain researchers in various scientific fields, such as genetics or physics. However, this usage is more specialized and might not be encountered frequently in everyday conversation.

Word Variants:

There are no direct variants of the word "muller," but related terms might include:
- Mulling (verb): The act of heating and spicing wine.
- Milled (verb): The past tense of "mill," which is related to grinding.

Different Meanings:

While the primary meanings focus on the tool and culinary context, "Muller" can also refer to:
- Historical figures like Hermann Joseph Muller (the geneticist) or Friedrich Max Müller (the philologist).

Synonyms:

For the tool:
- Pestle: A similar tool used for grinding in a mortar.
- Grinder: A more general term for any device that grinds or crushes substances.

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

Although there are no specific idioms or phrasal verbs directly associated with "muller," you might see phrases like:
- "Mull over" (to think carefully about something), which shares the root word "mull" but is not directly related to the tool.

Conclusion:

So, when you hear or use the word "muller," remember that it primarily describes a grinding tool or a vessel for warming wine.

Noun

a vessel in which wine is mulled
a heavy tool of stone or iron (usually with a flat base and a handle) that is used to grind and mix material (as grain or drugs or pigments) against a slab of stone
a reflective thinker characterized by quiet contemplation
United States geneticist who studied the effects of X-rays on genes (1890-1967)
British philologist (born in Germany) who specialized in Sanskrit (1823-1900)
German mathematician and astronomer (1436-1476)
German physiologist and anatomist (1801-1858)
Swiss physicist who studied superconductivity (born in 1927)
Swiss chemist who synthesized DDT and discovered its use as an insecticide (1899-1965)

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