---

• n  machine consisting of a heavy bar that moves vertically for pounding or crushing ores
• n  a heavy tool of stone or iron (usually with a flat base and a handle) that is used to grind and mix material (as grain or drugs or pigments) against a slab of stone
• n  a club-shaped hand tool for grinding and mixing substances in a mortar
• v  grind, mash or pulverize in a mortar
  pestle the garlic

• School-yard bullies have psychologically ground children with apparently gay or lesbian sexual orientation in the cruel mortar and pestle of school-yard prejudice.
• Using a mortar and pestle, pound them coarsely.
• This tapping, it turns out, isn't tapping as much as really hard, fast banging on the bones around my eyes, jaw and nose with a stone pestle, for about half an hour.

• stamp
• muller
• pounder

News & Articles

---

• Take the Super Quiz
  Take the Super Quiz Take the Super Quiz Take this Super Quiz to a Ph.D. Score 1 point for each correct answer on the Freshman Level, 2 points on the Graduate Level and 3 points on the Ph.D. What would you do with the given item? e.g., Pestle. Grind or mash a substance. Make holes (in wood or leather). 18 points — congratulations, doctor; 15 to 17 points — honors graduate; 10 to 14 points — you ...
  June 17, 2013 - Albany Times Union

Quotes

---

• Alice Sebold in Los Angeles Times
  I was the mortar,Sebold writes, in Susie's voice. "He was the pestle."
• Marcus Samuelsson in Globe and Mail
  Get in touch with your food,Samuelsson writes. "Use a mortar and pestle instead of a mixer, put aside the measuring cups and spoons and instead use a handful here and a pinch there. Try eating with your hands, African-style."