pestle

1 of 2

noun

pes·​tle ˈpe-səl  ˈpes-tᵊl 

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

• pestle 1 (with mortar)

pestle

2 of 2

verb

pestled; pestling ˈpe-s(ə-)liŋ 

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

Grind with a wooden pestle or ice cream scooper for approximately 30 seconds for each glass. —Rowan Briggs, The Mercury News, 13 Jan. 2025

For the freshest flavor, grinding whole allspice berries at home is easy with a mortar and pestle or even a coffee grinder. —Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 23 Dec. 2024

On the top floor of the restaurant Il Genovese, a man named Fabio, who had recently won the Genoa Pesto World Championship, was gently showing me how to grind basil leaves with a mortar and pestle. —Thessaly La Force, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Dec. 2024

Transfer the seeds to a small bowl to cool to room temperature, then use a coffee/spice grinder or mortar and pestle to grind them into a fine powder. —Jason Mastrodonato, The Mercury News, 16 Dec. 2024

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

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