comminute

com·mi·nute

verb \ˈkä-mə-ˌnüt, -ˌnyüt\

com·mi·nut·edcom·mi·nut·ing

Definition of COMMINUTE

transitive verb

: to reduce to minute particles : pulverize

— com·mi·nu·tion \ˌkä-mə-ˈnü-shən, -ˈnyü-\ noun

Examples of COMMINUTE

1. <eons of incessant pounding by the waves have comminuted the once-rocky shoreline into a bed of fine-grained sand>

Origin of COMMINUTE

Latin comminutus, past participle of comminuere, from com- + minuere to lessen — more at minor

First Known Use: 1626

Related to COMMINUTE

Synonyms: atomize, beat, bray, powder, crush, disintegrate, grind, mill, mull, pound, pulverize

Related Words: grate, kibble; crumble, crunch; break, bust, dash, fracture, fragment; shatter, smash, splinter; micronize

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Rhymes with COMMINUTE

absolute, Aleut, arrowroot, Asyût, attribute, autoroute, bandicoot, bathing suit, birthday suit, bitterroot, bodysuit, boilersuit, bumbershoot, business suit, constitute, contribute, convolute, destitute, disrepute, dissolute, execute, follow suit, gingerroot, hot pursuit, institute, involute, kiwifruit, leisure suit, malamute, overshoot, parachute, passion fruit, persecute, point-and-shoot, prosecute, prostitute, qiviut, resolute, restitute, revolute, run-and-shoot, rural route, subacute, substitute, troubleshoot, undershoot