treadmill

tread·mill

noun \ˈtred-ˌmil\

Definition of TREADMILL

1

a : a mill worked by persons treading on steps on the periphery of a wide wheel having a horizontal axis and used formerly in prison punishment b : a mill worked by an animal treading an endless belt c : a device having an endless belt on which an individual walks or runs in place for exercise or physiological testing

2

: a wearisome or monotonous routine resembling continued activity on a treadmill <the office treadmill>

Examples of TREADMILL

1. the treadmill of exhausting family schedules
2. <the treadmill of the morning commute to work>

First Known Use of TREADMILL

1822

Related to TREADMILL

Synonyms: drill, grind, groove, lockstep, pattern, rote, rut, routine

Related Words: daily dozen, regimen; housekeeping; custom, fashion, habit, practice (also practise), trick, wont; approach, manner, method, procedure, strategy, style, tack, technique, way; design, plan, program, scheme; convention, policy, tradition

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Rhymes with TREADMILL

anthill, at will, backfill, ball mill, bluegill, Brazil, breast drill, cranesbill, crossbill, de Mille, dentil, de-skill, distill, doorsill, downhill, duckbill, dullsville, dunghill, fire drill, foothill, freewill, free will, gin mill, goodwill, gristmill, handbill, hawksbill, hornbill, Huntsville, ill will, instill, Knoxville, lambkill, landfill, limekiln, manille, McGill, Melville, mixed grill, molehill, mudsill, Nashville, no-till, pep pill, per mill, playbill, pot still, pug mill, quadrille, red squill, refill, roadkill, sawmill, Schuylkill, self-will, Seville, sheathbill, shoebill, show bill, sidehill, sigil, spadille, spoonbill, stabile, standstill, stock-still, storksbill, T-bill, true bill, twin bill, twist drill, until, uphill, vaudeville, waxbill, waybill, windchill, windmill, Zangwill