grit
/ɡrɪt
/noun [mass noun]
1Small loose particles of stone or sand: she had a bit of grit in her eye...
- During the course of your fishing session your line will pick up small bits of grit, sand and algae.
- Clean the cockles or clams by soaking them in cold water for at least 30 minutes to remove any sand or grit.
- He swallowed dust and grit and a bit of his back tooth.
Synonyms
gravel, pebbles, stones, shingle, sand, dust, dirt
1.1 [as modifier] (With numeral) indicating the grade of fineness of an abrasive: 400 grit paper...
- A disk grinder with a 30 grit sanding disk works well for removing rubber.
- Using 220 - grit sandpaper, lightly sand all the surfaces of the door and frames.
- I applied two light layers of primer sanding after each one with 600 grit wet/dry sandpaper.
1.2 (also gritstone) A coarse sandstone: [count noun]: layers of impervious shales and grits...
- They were to be created from local limestone, sandstone and gritstone and each cairn was to feature a spiral design of dry stone walls emanating outwards.
- Work has involved replacing the original limestone steps with gritstone that will be less slippery.
- Not all rock is the same, and gritstone is like no other.
2Courage and resolve; strength of character: I’ve known few men who could match Maude’s grit...
- Our backs were truly against the wall and finally some of the true grit and character that has been lying dormant for too long came flooding through.
- The crew is rising to every little challenge they are given and conquering them all with true grit and sheer determination.
- With home games against sides they have the ability to beat and away games against sides they have already beaten, it is now all about true grit and determination.
Synonyms
courage, courageousness, bravery, pluck, mettle, mettlesomeness, backbone, spirit, strength of character, strength of will, moral fibre, steel, nerve, gameness, valour, fortitude, toughness, hardiness, resolve, determination, resolution;
stamina, doggedness, tenacity, perseverance, endurance
informal gumption, guts, spunk
British informal bottle
vulgar slang balls
verb (grits, gritting, gritted)
1 [with object] Spread grit and often salt on (an icy road): (as adjective gritting) a council gritting lorry...
- According to Highways Agency guidelines councils are not required to grit every street and road in the borough.
- We feel that none of the above would have happened if the council had gritted the roads.
- After the crashes, City of York Council insisted it had gritted the road according to its procedures.
2 [no object] Grate: fine red dust that gritted between the teeth...
- At least a third of the desert's sand was in my mouth gritting between my teeth.
- I did not expect a travel story so real that I could almost feel the dust gritting between my teeth.
- Sand gritted in your teeth with every bite of food and rasped the eyeballs each time you blinked your eyes.
Phrases
grit one's teeth
Origin
Old English grēot 'sand, gravel', of Germanic origin; related to German Griess, also to groats.