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

Transfer to a plate and set aside to cool completely, then use a spice grinder or mortar and pestle to grind to a fine powder. —Madhushree Basu Roy, Saveur, 30 Apr. 2026

The magic of the molcajete, a pre-Hispanic mortar and pestle, is its ability to extract oils in a way the blades of a food processor can’t. —ABC News, 27 Apr. 2026

An assortment of stone tools, including grinding slabs, mullers, pestles, and mortars, suggested that grain was processed on-site. —Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 6 Apr. 2026

Nearly half of their shots are from beyond the arc and in normal circumstances, that wouldn’t matter against the grind-you-like-a-mortar-and-pestle defense that is Texas Tech. —Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 15 Mar. 2026

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