Definition of "treadmill" []

• A mechanism rotated by people treading on the moving steps of a wheel. (noun)
• A similar device operated by an animal treading a continuous sloping belt. (noun)
• An exercise device consisting of a continuous moving belt on which a person can walk or jog while remaining in one place. (noun)
• A monotonous task or set of tasks seeming to have no end. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "Using the term treadmill is arguably increasingly inappropriate too, as it leads people to think it can continue ad infinitum."
• "I fully believe that NASA should have named the node itself after Colbert - fact is, he won - but the treadmill is a nice consolation prize."
• "Overall, I find that walking the dog or jogging on the treadmill is a great way to work out problems or come up with new ideas for writing."