graze

¹

[greyz]

verb (used without object)

grazed, grazing 

1. to feed on growing grass and pasturage, as do cattle, sheep, etc.

2. Informal.,  to eat small portions of food, as appetizers or the like, in place of a full-sized meal or to snack during the course of the day in place of regular meals.

verb (used with object)

grazed, grazing 

1. to feed on (growing grass).

2. to put cattle, sheep, etc., to feed on (grass, pastureland, etc.).

3. to tend (cattle, sheep, etc.) while they are at pasture.

graze

²

[greyz]

verb (used with object)

grazed, grazing 

1. to touch or rub lightly in passing.

2. to scrape the skin from; abrade.

   The bullet just grazed his shoulder.

verb (used without object)

grazed, grazing 

1. to touch or rub something lightly, or so as to produce slight abrasion, in passing.

   to graze against a rough wall.

noun

1. a touching or rubbing lightly in passing.

2. a slight scratch, scrape, or wound made in passing; abrasion.

graze

¹

/ ɡreɪz /

verb

1. to allow (animals) to consume the vegetation on (an area of land), or (of animals, esp cows and sheep) to feed thus

2. (tr) to tend (livestock) while at pasture

3. informal,  to eat snacks throughout the day rather than formal meals

4. informal,  to eat

5. informal,  (intr) to switch between television channels while viewing without watching any channel for long

6. to pilfer and eat sweets, vegetables, etc, from supermarket shelves while shopping

noun

1. informal,  a snack; something to eat

graze

²

/ ɡreɪz /

verb

1. to brush or scrape (against) gently, esp in passing

2. (tr) to break the skin of (a part of the body) by scraping

noun

1. the act of grazing

2. a scrape or abrasion made by grazing

Other Word Forms

• grazeable adjective
• grazer noun
• grazingly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of graze¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English grasen, Old English grasian, derivative of græs grass

Origin of graze²

First recorded in 1350–1400; perhaps special use of graze ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of graze¹

Old English grasian, from græs _grass ; related to Old High German grasōn , Dutch grazen, Norwegian grasa

Origin of graze²

C17: probably special use of _graze ¹ ; related to Swedish gräsa

Example Sentences

I quickly snuck back into my hideaway and stayed quiet, listening to the gnarled sounds of this massive animal grazing just feet away from me.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

In addition to resuming its duties providing milk for the family farm, the goat can now go back to performing a second important job — helping prevent wildfires by grazing on flammable brush.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Mostly, the horses peacefully graze, but two rear up momentarily.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

He said the bullet grazed his shoulder, struck his face "and exited through my nose".

Read more on BBC

He said this would provide adequate grazing in winter for the animals left on the island.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• ricochet 
• rub 
• scrape 
• scratch 
• skim 
• skip