treadmill

/ˈtrɛdˌmɪl/
noun
  1. An exercise machine with a moving belt that you walk or run on while staying in the same place.
    • She runs on the treadmill for 30 minutes every morning.
    • I prefer the treadmill to running outside when it's raining.
    • The gym has ten treadmills, but they are all busy during peak hours.
  2. A boring, repetitive routine or job that feels like it never ends.
    • He felt stuck on the corporate treadmill, working long hours with no reward.
    • She decided to quit her job and travel, tired of the endless treadmill.
    • Many people want to escape the daily treadmill of commuting and meetings.
  3. A historical device where a person or animal walks on steps or a wheel to turn machinery, such as a mill or pump.
    • In the 19th century, prisoners were sometimes forced to walk on a treadmill as punishment.
    • The old farm used a horse-powered treadmill to grind grain.
    • The museum has a replica of a medieval treadmill used to lift heavy stones.
What does "treadmill" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean