Term: milling (grinding) https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.M03928 Definition: The mechanical reduction of the particle size of a sample by attribution (friction), impact or cutting. The required particle size of a sample is related to the size of the test portion and the number of particles required to ensure homogeneity among test portions. The reduction in particle size may sometimes result in particles of different hardness and density, which produces inhomogeneity during the preparation of the test sample or during the withdrawal of the test portion. Related Terms: 1) test portion (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.T06284). 2) test sample (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.T06285). Source: PAC, 1990, 62, 1193. 'Nomenclature for sampling in analytical chemistry (Recommendations 1990)' on page 1205 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac199062061193) Citation: 'milling (grinding)' in IUPAC Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 5th ed. International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; 2025. Online version 5.0.0, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.M03928 License: The IUPAC Gold Book is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike CC BY-SA 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) for individual terms. Disclaimer: The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) is continuously reviewing and, where needed, updating terms in the Compendium of Chemical Terminology (the IUPAC Gold Book). Users of these terms are encouraged to include the version of a term with its use and to check regularly for updates to term definitions that you are using.