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

Homemade pesto ground with a mortar and pestle is drizzled on top with Taggiasca olives. —Lily Radziemski, New York Times, 29 May 2025

Grind in mortar and pestle, or place in small zipper-style plastic bag and pound with mallet or bottom of a pot until ground. —Cathy Thomas, Oc Register, 13 May 2025

Coriander seeds crush easily using a mortar and pestle. —Kelly Brant, Arkansas Online, 27 May 2025

Jaws lined with sharp dagger-like teeth were most likely associated with carnivores, while others set with the dental equivalent of mortar and pestles likely ground plant matter into digestible food. —Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 16 Apr. 2025

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

Rhymes for pestle

• cresol
• decile
• nestle
• sessile
• trestle
• vessel
• wessel
• wrestle
• subsessile

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