pulverize, v.
(ˈpʌlvəraɪz)
[ad. late L. pulverizāre, or F. pulvériser (Paré 16th c.), † polveriser (14th c. in Hatz.-Darm.), f. L. pulver-em: see pulver n.]
1. trans. To reduce to powder or dust; to comminute, to triturate. Also refl.
| 1585 T. Washington tr. Nicholay's Voy. ii. xxii. 60 b. A drugge..which being puluerised and tempered in water, they rubbe vppon..the bodye. 1605 Sylvester Du Bartas ii. iii. iii. Law 1142 The zealous Prophet with just fury mov'd..pulveriz'd their Idol. c 1790 J. Imison Sch. Art ii. 69 Let it dry, and then pulverize it. 1868 Rogers Pol. Econ. xii. (1876) 154 Cultivable land must be pulverised and watered. 1869 J. Martineau Ess. II. 235 The solid ground of life was pulverizing itself away. |
b. techn. To divide (a liquid) into minute particles or spray.
| 1807 J. Barlow Columb. vi. 230 Stroke after stroke with doubling force he plied, Foil'd the hoar Fiend and pulverized the tide. |
2. fig. To demolish or destroy, to break down utterly; to ‘smash’.
| 1631 Massinger Believe as you List i. ii, You shall..Feel really that we have iron hammers To pulverize rebellion. 1684 Baxter Twelve Argts. Post. M ij, Between both which Truth and Peace is broken, and the Church pulverized. 1813 Examiner 17 May 313/1 Which, like a clap of thunder, has pulverized..chimerical hopes. 1864 J. H. Newman Apol. iii. (1865) 117 The theory of the Via Media was absolutely pulverized. 1895 Col. Maurice in United Service Mag. July 428 The four battalions..were..pulverised and driven helter-skelter partly among the defendants. |
b. To dissipate in minute portions. rare.
| 1834 Sir W. Hamilton Discuss. (1852) 373 The responsibility was so pulverized among a passing multitude of nameless individuals. |
3. intr. To crumble or fall to dust; to become disintegrated. Also fig.
| 1801 Farmer's Mag. Apr. 147 If they are ploughed in November or December, the rains, snow, and frost, make them pulverize easily. 1860 Emerson Cond. Life, Worship Wks. (Bohn) II. 394 The stern old faiths have all pulverized. 1866 Lawrence tr. Cotta's Rocks Class. (1878) 267 Sometimes these varieties [of limestone] pulverise to a crystalline sand. |
4. intr. Of a bird: To roll in the dust; to take a dust-bath. rare.
| 1890 in Cent. Dict. |
Hence ˈpulverized ppl. a.; ˈpulverizing vbl. n. and ppl. a.
| a 1693 Urquhart's Rabelais iii. xxxiv. 288 That..pulverized Dose. 1727 De Foe Hist. Appar. iv. (1840) 29 The man that lived there must be dried up sufficiently for pulverising. 1765 A. Dickson Treat. Agric. (ed. 2) 363 Manures are found to enrich the best pulverised soil. 1832 Carlyle Misc., Death Goethe (1857) III. 110 The wrecks and pulverised rubbish of ancient things. 1832 Planting 37 (Libr. Usef. Knowl.) The pulverizing action of the sun and air. 1926 Jrnl. Iron & Steel Inst. CXIII. 507 The author continues his account of practice in the use of pulverised fuel, dealing with the efficiency of the method of powdered coal-firing as compared with other methods. 1950 Engineering 28 July 79/1 Where a high proportion of heat recovery was required in the air heater, pulverised-fuel firing was essential. 1976 Horse & Hound 10 Dec. 64/2 (Advt.), The latest in animal bedding... Made from pulverised wood—cheaper than straw. |