[f. L. comminūt- ppl. stem of comminu-ĕre to reduce into smaller parts, lessen; f. com- together + minu-ĕre to make smaller, lessen, f. root of min-us, min-or less.]
1. trans. To reduce (solids) to minute particles; to break, crush, or grind to small fragments or to powder; to pulverize, triturate.
1626. Bacon, Sylva, § 800. Entire Bodies, and not comminuted, as Sand and Ashes.
1670. Phil. Trans., V. 2033. Such Menstruum’s as may dissolve and comminute the hard Stone in the Bladder.
1769. Pennant, Zool., III. 197. [They] feed chiefly on shell-fish, which they comminute with their teeth.
1880. Nature, XXI. 203. Nor [are] their teeth [adapted] for comminuting hard bones.
† b. transf. To divide (a liquid) minutely. Obs.
1667. Phil. Trans., II. 515. By comminuting and mixing the Bloud in the Gills.
1758. J. S., Le Dran’s Observ. Surg. (ed. 4), 297. The Falling of a Column of Water … abrades and comminutes the inspissated Juices.
c. To reduce to minuteness, to diminish. rare.
1842. W. Grove, Corr. Phys. Forces, 17. Direct and reacting waves, continually comminuted, but never destroyed.
d. transf. To divide or break up (e.g., property) into small portions.
1836. Sir H. Taylor, Statesman, xxix. 217. If the patronage be comminuted and placed in several hands.
1860. Adler, Fauriel’s Prov. Poetry, xv. 340. Fiefs … became so comminuted as no longer to afford the means of easy subsistence to their too numerous proprietors.
2. intr. (Math.) [L. com- + minuĕre.] Proposed by De Morgan for ‘to diminish together without limit’: see COMMINUENT.
Hence Comminuting vbl. sb. and ppl. a.
1766. Pennant, Zool., River Trout Salmon (R.). The superior quantity of shell-fish … may more frequently call for the use of its comminuting powers.
1870. Rolleston, Anim. Life, Introd. 51. The absence of comminuting organs anteriorly to the Gizzard.
