macinare

Macinare is an Italian verb meaning to grind or mill, that is, to reduce solid material to smaller particles through crushing, friction, or impact. In practical terms it describes activities such as grinding grains to flour, coffee beans to grounds, or spices to powder. The action is performed by a range of equipment, from simple manual grinders and mortars to electric burr mills, blade grinders, and industrial roller mills. The process itself is called macinazione; the result is described as macinato, for example farina macinata or caffè macinato.

In addition to culinary uses, macinare is used in other sectors including mining and chemical processing, where ore or chemicals are milled to finer sizes. The term also appears in metaphorical expressions such as macinare lavoro or macinare chilometri, indicating rapid or sustained production or movement.

Etymology and related terms: macinare derives from macina, a millstone or grinding instrument, with the suffix -are forming the verb. Related terms include macinatrice (grinding machine), mulino (mill), and macinatura (the act of grinding or milling). The noun forms macinazione and macinato are commonly used to describe the process and the product, respectively.