What is the Latin word for comminute?

The usual Latin words for “comminute” are conterō, friō, pīnsō; also contundō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“comminute” in Latin

conterōto grind or crush to pieces; to bruise or crumble; to wear down or away, consume friōto crumble, rub, or break into pieces pīnsōto beat, pound; to lash, thrash, flog, scourge contundōto beat or pound to a pulp; to bruise, make sore; to utterly subdue

The English word comminute itself goes back to Latin minuō, through comminūtus.

Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864

comminute

conterere. friare (to crumble): pinsere (pound in order to reduce anything): contundere (crush, e.g., in a mortar, in pila).

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for comminute?: The usual Latin words for “comminute” are conterō, friō, pīnsō; also contundō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.