engrener

French

Pronunciation

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Verb

engrener

1. (transitive, intransitive) to fill with grain

   engrener la trémie d’un moulin ― to fill the hopper of a windmill with grain

   puisqu’il a engrené, c’est à lui à moudre

   now that it's been filled with grain, it's up to him to grind it

2. (transitive, intransitive) to set in motion; to start; to begin

   engrener une affaire ― to begin an affair/undertaking

   il a bien engrené, il réussira

   he started on the right foot, so he'll make it

3. (transitive) to engage or mesh (come into gear with)
4. (intransitive) to be caught on a slippery slope
5. (transitive, dated) (of poultry) to fatten by feeding grain
6. (transitive, agriculture, obsolete) to thresh

Further reading

• “engrener”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.