Pulverizing

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. The process of converting solid matter into tiny particles or powder form is known as reducing its size
2. It involves the technique of breaking down a substance into fine fragments or dust-like consistency
3. The act of crushing or grinding a solid material until it becomes fine particles or powder

Etymology: "Pulverizing" is the present participle and gerund of "pulverize", so its story is really the story of the verb it comes from. "Pulverize" takes its meaning from the Latin "pulvis", meaning dust or powder, and the verb was formed from that root to describe reducing something to fine particles. The English verb carries that original sense intact, so a thing being pulverized is being ground or beaten into powder, and the same root gives English "pulverulent," meaning powdery.

Synonyms: crushing, grinding, milling

Antonyms: constructing