Mills

[ milz ]
/ mɪlz /

noun

C(harles) Wright,1916–62, U.S. sociologist.
Robert,1781–1855, U.S. architect and engineer.

Definition for mills (2 of 3)

mill 1
[ mil ]
/ mɪl /

noun

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

to move around aimlessly, slowly, or confusedly, as a herd of cattle (often followed by about or around).
Slang. to fight or box.

Origin of mill

1
before 950; Middle English milne, mille (noun), Old English myl(e)n < Late Latin molīna, noun use of feminine of molīnus of a mill, equivalent to Latin mol(a) mill + -īnus -ine1

SYNONYMS FOR mill

Definition for mills (3 of 3)

mill 2
[ mil ]
/ mɪl /

noun

a unit of monetary value equal to 0.001 of a U.S. dollar; one tenth of a cent: used at various times and places in the U.S. as a money of account, especially in certain tax rates.

Origin of mill

2
1785–95, Americanism; short for Latin millēsimus thousandth; see mil1

Example sentences from the Web for mills

British Dictionary definitions for mills (1 of 4)

Mills
/ (mɪlz) /

noun

Hayley. born 1946, British actress. Her films include Pollyanna (1960) and The Parent Trap (1961)
her father, Sir John. 1908–2005, British actor. His films include This Happy Breed (1944), Great Expectations (1946), and Ryan's Daughter (1971)

British Dictionary definitions for mills (2 of 4)

mill 1
/ (mɪl) /

noun

verb

Derived forms of mill

millable, adjective

Word Origin for mill

Old English mylen from Late Latin molīna a mill, from Latin mola mill, millstone, from molere to grind

British Dictionary definitions for mills (3 of 4)

mill 2
/ (mɪl) /

noun

a US and Canadian monetary unit used in calculations, esp for property taxes, equal to one thousandth of a dollar

Word Origin for mill

C18: short for Latin mīllēsimum a thousandth (part)

British Dictionary definitions for mills (4 of 4)

Mill
/ (mɪl) /

noun

James. 1773–1836, Scottish philosopher, historian, and economist. He expounded Bentham's utilitarian philosophy in Elements of Political Economy (1821) and Analysis of the Phenomena of the Human Mind (1829) and also wrote a History of British India (1817–18)
his son, John Stuart. 1806–73, English philosopher and economist. He modified Bentham's utilitarian philosophy in Utilitarianism (1861) and in his treatise On Liberty (1859) he defended the rights and freedom of the individual. Other works include A System of Logic (1843) and Principles of Political Economy (1848)

Idioms and Phrases with mills

mill

see grist for the mill; mills of the gods grind slowly; run of the mill; through the mill; tilt at windmills.