Context Clues for "Pestle"
* Surrounding words: Look for words related to grinding, crushing, pounding, or preparing food. Words like "mortar," "spice," "ingredients," or "herbs" could indicate the use of a pestle.
* Action verbs: Pay attention to verbs like "crush," "grind," "pound," "smash," or "pulverize." These actions often require a pestle.
* Descriptions: The sentence might describe the tool itself, such as its shape (cylindrical), material (wood or stone), or its purpose (grinding spices).
* Example: The passage might give an example of how the pestle is used, like "The chef used a pestle to crush the garlic."
Example:
"The cook carefully placed the coriander seeds into the mortar and used a pestle to grind them into a fine powder."
In this example, the words "mortar," "grind," and "powder" all provide clues that "pestle" refers to a tool used for crushing and grinding.
Remember: Context clues can be subtle. You may need to consider the entire sentence or paragraph to determine the meaning of "pestle."