mill
gb/mˈɪl/ us/mˈɪl/
A2
English
~ 2700
malom, gyár, üzem, őröl, fűrészel, mar, téblábol
NOUN
A2
1
malom
A2
Usage pattern:
[someone] works at a mill
The old mill by the river still produces flour.
A folyó melletti régi malom még ma is lisztet készít.
Farmers bring their wheat to the local mill.
A gazdák a helyi malomba viszik a búzájukat.
The town grew around the large water-powered mill.
Learner examples
The mill makes flour from wheat.
A malom búzából lisztet készít.
We visited a small mill in the countryside.
Meglátogattunk egy kis malmot vidéken.
My uncle works in a big flour mill.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'mill' with 'factory'; a mill is usually for grinding or processing raw materials, especially grain.
Meaning
Building for grinding grain
Collocations
flour mill
|grain mill
|water mill
|windmill
Synonyms
gristmill (More specific term for a mill that grinds grain, often used historically.)
Themes
food
|industry
|daily life
|food_drink
|work
Definition
A place with machines that crush grain to make flour.
A building equipped with machinery for grinding grain into flour.
NOUN
B1
2
Usage pattern:
[someone] works in a mill
He got a job at the local steel mill.
Állást kapott a helyi acélműben.
The paper mill produces thousands of sheets daily.
A papírgyár naponta több ezer papírlapot gyárt.
Many textile mills closed during the recession.
Learner examples
My father works in a steel mill.
Apám egy acélműben dolgozik.
The paper mill is near the river.
A papírgyár a folyó közelében van.
They build cars in the big mill.
Common mistake:
Some learners think 'mill' is only for food, but it can be used for other materials like steel or paper.
Meaning
Factory for processing materials
Collocations
steel mill
|paper mill
|textile mill
Synonyms
factory (General term for a building where goods are produced; 'mill' can be more specific to certain industries.)
Themes
industry
|manufacturing
|business
|work
Definition
A large building where things like metal, paper, or cloth are made or processed.
A factory where raw materials are processed or manufactured into finished goods.
VERB
B1
3
Usage pattern:
to mill [something]
They mill the wheat to produce flour.
Megőrlik a búzát, hogy lisztet készítsenek.
The factory mills timber into planks.
Az üzem deszkákká fűrészeli a faanyagot.
Coffee beans are milled before brewing.
Learner examples
They mill the rice into powder.
A rizst porrá őrlik.
Workers mill the wood into boards.
A munkások deszkákká fűrészelik a fát.
We will mill the corn today.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'mill' with 'grind'; 'mill' usually implies the use of larger machinery.
Meaning
Grind or crush using a machine
Collocations
mill grain
|mill flour
|mill coffee beans
Synonyms
grind ('Grind' is more general and can be done with hand tools; 'mill' often implies mechanical processing.)
Themes
industry
|food
|work
|technology
Definition
To break something into small pieces using special machines.
To grind, crush, or cut material into smaller pieces using a machine.
VERB
B2
INFORMAL
4
téblábol
B2
Usage pattern:
[people] mill around [place]
Guests milled around the hall before the ceremony began.
A vendégek a teremben tébláboltak, mielőtt elkezdődött a szertartás.
Shoppers milled about near the entrance.
A vásárlók a bejárat közelében tébláboltak.
Students milled around outside after class.
Learner examples
People milled around the park.
Az emberek a parkban tébláboltak.
Students milled about before the teacher came.
A diákok tébláboltak, mielőtt megérkezett a tanár.
Many people milled around the store.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse this sense with 'wander', but 'mill' usually involves multiple people and no set path.
Meaning
Move around aimlessly in a group
Collocations
mill around
|mill about
Synonyms
wander ('Wander' can be alone or in groups; 'mill' often implies a crowd or group moving aimlessly.)
Antonyms
gather ('Gather' suggests coming together with purpose, opposite of aimless milling.)
Themes
daily life
|movement
|daily_life
Definition
To walk around slowly with no clear goal, often with other people.
To walk or move around without direction, often in a group while waiting for something to happen.
Grammar
Dictionary form
mill
IPA
GB/mˈɪl/
US/mˈɪl/
Syllables & stress
mill (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (mill)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: mill
- Plural: mills
Verb
- Base: mill
- 3rd Person Singular: mills
- Present Participle: milling
- Past: milled
Word family
Forms
mills
noun
milling
verb
milled
verb
Core family
miller
noun
Related words
windmill
noun
sawmill
noun
Advanced or less common
watermill
noun
millstone
noun
Expressions
grist for the mill
1/ɡɹˈɪst fɚ ðə mˈɪl/
idiom
Something that can be used to advantage
Something that can be used to help you or give you ideas, even if it seems bad at first.
Examples
- His mistakes are just grist for the mill of his critics.
- Every experience is grist for the writer's mill.
mill about
1/mˈɪl əbˈaʊt/
phrasal verb
Move slowly without purpose in group
To walk or stand without clear purpose, usually with other people in one place.
Examples
- People milled about the station waiting for the train.
- Fans milled about outside the stadium.
pepper mill
1/pˈɛpɚ mˈɪl/
fixed phrase
Device for grinding peppercorns
A small tool that you turn to crush pepper into small pieces for cooking or eating.
Examples
- She reached for the pepper mill to season her soup.
- The restaurant has fresh pepper mills on every table.
run-of-the-mill
1/ɹˈʌn əv ðə mˈɪl/
idiom
Ordinary and unremarkable
Not special or different; average.
Examples
- It was just a run-of-the-mill romantic comedy.
- Don't expect anything fancy—it's pretty run-of-the-mill.