cŏm'mi-nū'tion, n.
n. 1. The act of reducing to a fine powder or to small particles; pulverization.
This smiting of the steel with the flint doth only make a comminution and a very rapid whirling and melting of some particles. Bentley.
Sense 2. Attenuation or diminution by the removal of small particles at a time. “A comminution of the melted body.” Boyle. “Natural and necessary comminution of our lives.” Johnson.