pestle

1 of 2

noun

1
: a usually club-shaped implement for pounding or grinding substances in a mortar see mortar illustration
2
: any of various devices for pounding, stamping, or pressing

Illustration of pestle

Illustration of pestle
  • pestle 1 (with mortar)

pestle

2 of 2

verb

pestled; pestling ˈpe-s(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce pestle (audio)
ˈpes-tᵊl-iŋ

transitive verb

archaic
: to beat, pound, or pulverize with or as if with a pestle

intransitive verb

: to work with a pestle : use a pestle

Examples of pestle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Meanwhile, cut up cannabis flowers using scissors in a paper cup (can use herb grinder or pestle and mortar). Tor Haugan, The Mercury News, 28 Oct. 2024 Mortars and pestles crushed herbs and bouillon into aromatic pastes. Melissa Alcena, New York Times, 26 Sep. 2024 Add the squash and parm and continue to press down and mix the ingredients with the pestle. Sami Sparber, Axios, 7 Sep. 2024 Using a pestle and mortar, crush to a powder, then tip into a large bowl along with all the remaining ingredients apart from the chicken and vinegar. The Week Uk, theweek, 8 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for pestle 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pestle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English pestel, from Anglo-French, from Latin pistillum, from pinsere to pound, crush; akin to Greek ptissein to crush, Sanskrit pinaṣṭi he pounds

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of pestle was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near pestle

Cite this Entry

“Pestle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pestle. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

pestle

noun
pes·​tle
ˈpes-əl,
ˈpes-tᵊl
: a usually club-shaped tool for pounding or grinding substances in a mortar

Medical Definition

pestle

noun
pes·​tle
ˈpes-əl also ˈpes-tᵊl
: a usually club-shaped implement for pounding or grinding substances in a mortar

More from Merriam-Webster on pestle

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