treadmill
//ˈtrɛdˌmɪl//
Noun
treadmillSingular
treadmillsPlural
1
An exercise machine with a continuous moving belt on which a person walks or runs while staying in the same place.
I run on the treadmill at the gym every morning.
2
A monotonous routine or situation that feels endless and exhausting, often with little sense of progress.
Working overtime every day feels like being stuck on a treadmill.
3
Historical: A large wheel turned by the weight of people or animals treading on steps around its edge, used as a source of power.
In the 19th century, prisoners were often forced to walk on treadmills to generate power for grinding grain.