treadmill
part of speech
noun (a treadmill, treadmills)
meaning for a pupil
1) A treadmill is an exercise machine with a moving belt that you walk or run on without going anywhere. tree →
2) (figurative) A treadmill is a boring routine of work that goes on and on and never seems to get anywhere. tree →
3) (history) A treadmill was a large wheel turned by people or animals walking on it, used to grind grain or pump water, and in Victorian prisons as a punishment. tree →
sense in the lessons
Health and PE: treadmills at gyms let people run indoors; you can set speed and slope. Safety: children should not use treadmills without an adult — fingers and clothes can get caught. History: Victorian prisoners were made to walk the treadmill for hours. Everyday talk: «I'm stuck on the treadmill» means my life feels like the same tiring work every day.
examples
- Mum runs on the treadmill when it is raining. tree →
- The treadmill was set to a slow walk. tree →
- Victorian prisoners had to walk on the treadmill. tree →
- He felt his job was a never-ending treadmill. tree →
- Keep fingers away from a moving treadmill. tree →
- Vets use underwater treadmills to help dogs recover. tree →
- How long and wearisome the time appeared; it was like being in a treadmill. tree →
note
Countable, one word. From «tread» (to step) + «mill». Similar: running machine (UK).
Trees and pragmatics
Every meaning and example of «treadmill» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.