grid

American  

[grid] / grɪd /

noun

• grids
  plural

1. a grating of crossed bars; gridiron.

2. Electricity.

   1. a metallic framework employed in a storage cell or battery for conducting the electric current and supporting the active material.

   2. a system of electrical distribution serving a large area, especially by means of high-tension lines.

3. Electronics. an electrode in a vacuum tube, usually consisting of parallel wires, a coil of wire, or a screen, for controlling the flow of electrons between the other electrodes.

4. Surveying. a basic system of reference lines for a region, consisting of straight lines intersecting at right angles.

5. a network of horizontal and perpendicular lines, uniformly spaced, for locating points on a map, chart, or aerial photograph by means of a system of coordinates.

6. Architecture. a rectangular system of coordinates used in locating the principal elements of a plan.

7. grillage.

8. Football. gridiron.

---

idioms

1. off grid. See off-grid. Also off the grid

grid British  

/ ɡrɪd /

noun

1. See gridiron

2. a network of horizontal and vertical lines superimposed over a map, building plan, etc, for locating points

3. a grating consisting of parallel bars

4. the national network of transmission lines, pipes, etc, by which electricity, gas, or water is distributed

5. short for national grid

6. Also called: control grid.  electronics

   1. an electrode situated between the cathode and anode of a valve usually consisting of a cylindrical mesh of wires, that controls the flow of electrons between cathode and anode See also screen grid suppressor grid

   2. ( as modifier )

      the grid bias

7. See starting grid

8. a plate in an accumulator that carries the active substance

9. any interconnecting system of links

   the bus service formed a grid across the country

10. Northern English dialect word for face

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• gridded
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• grids
  plural

Etymology

Origin of grid

First recorded in 1830–40; short for gridiron

Explanation

A grid is a network of intersecting parallel lines, whether real or imaginary. Most American streets are laid out in a grid pattern, meaning the streets intersect at right angles and form a pattern of squares when viewed from above. You've probably seen a map grid, the uniform lines drawn on a map that allow you to pinpoint a particular location. Grid can also refer to a physical network of sorts, not necessarily made of straight or parallel lines. You may be familiar with the high voltage electrical cables that carry power throughout the country, known as the national grid. A grid can also be a device made up of intersecting metal bars that you use when grilling food.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

grid grids

It would also require utilities to improve their use of existing grid capacity and be more transparent about unused capacity.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026

Why are Mercedes choosing to take a grid penalty for Kimi Antonelli at the next race in Italy?

From BBC ● Sep. 1, 2026

Grid operator 50Hertz claimed that unidentified perpetrators damaged several lines in its grid.

From Barron's ● Sep. 1, 2026

Its biggest campus, Ports-Pike Technology in Ohio, is slated to offer 10 gigawatts of gross power load required from the grid once fully constructed.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026

Otto leaned in, not particularly hopeful until he saw the picture within the grid of bow ties and strapless gowns that filled the senior section.

From "The Last Last-Day-of-Summer" by Lamar Giles

Each person had just been arrested in Wake County, N.C., and now their mug shots glowed on a computer screen in grids of eight.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026

GPS, power grids and satellites are some of the vital technologies vulnerable to changes in the earth's magnetic field.

From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026

A better solution might be to invest more in improved cybersecurity and critical infrastructure, like the power grids that risk being hacked.

From Salon ● Aug. 17, 2026

The country is positioning itself as a critical supplier for the global energy transition, with demand surging for copper used in electric vehicles, power grids and renewable energy infrastructure.

From Barron's ● Aug. 10, 2026

He got up and walked to her, and, bending, pressed the adhesive pad of sensitive grids against her deeply tinted cheek.

From "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" by Philip K. Dick

Related Words

• framework
• network