Definition

1. Noun:

   • A club-shaped hand tool for grinding and mixing substances in a mortar: A pestle is a heavy, blunt tool, typically with a rounded end, used to crush, grind, or mix materials by pounding them in a bowl called a mortar.
   • A heavy tool of stone or iron (usually with a flat base and a handle) used for grinding: This refers to a larger, often stone, version used historically for grinding grain or other substances on a flat stone slab.

2. Verb:

   • To grind, mash, or pulverize in a mortar: The action of using a pestle to crush or reduce a substance to a powder or paste.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • She used a marble pestle and mortar to crush the spices.
  • Archaeologists found an ancient stone pestle at the site.

• Verb:

  • You need to pestle the seeds thoroughly to release their flavor.
  • Pestle the garlic and salt together to form a paste.

Advanced Usage

• "To pestle something to a powder/fine paste": To grind something until it achieves a specific, very fine consistency.
  • The recipe instructs you to pestle the nuts to a fine powder.

Variants and Related Words

• Mortar and pestle (noun phrase): The complete set consisting of the bowl (mortar) and the grinding tool (pestle). This is the standard pair used together.
  • A mortar and pestle is essential for traditional cooking in many cuisines.

Synonyms

• Noun (Tool): Grinder, pounder, masher.
• Verb (Action): Crush, grind, pulverize, mash, pound.

Related Phrases

• "To work with a pestle": To use a pestle as part of a task.
  • Making this sauce involves working with a pestle for at least ten minutes.

Noun

1. a club-shaped hand tool for grinding and mixing substances in a mortar
2. 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
3. machine consisting of a heavy bar that moves vertically for pounding or crushing ores

Verb

1. grind, mash or pulverize in a mortar
   • pestle the garlic