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.

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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

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• gridded
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• grids
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of grid

First recorded in 1830–40; short for gridiron

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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

Coming from the two most successful champions on the current grid, the men who are first and third in the all-time list of F1 record-holders, it meant something.

From BBC ● Nov. 2, 2026

Built by a Chinese state firm and owned by a Thai-led consortium, it sells electricity exclusively to Vietnam's national grid via dedicated transmission lines.

From Barron's ● Nov. 1, 2026

She is also waiting for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power to release its analysis on how the electrical grid could handle such a requirement.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 30, 2026

But the state is part of PJM Interconnection, the largest U.S. grid operator, which is in the midst of re-evaluating how it will connect data centers with power producers.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 30, 2026

When it was finally closer to dinnertime, Dad ordered the pizza and I set up the grid for another round while we waited.

From "Keep It Together, Keiko Carter" by Debbi Michiko Florence

Such hypothetical benefits include progress in healthcare, like the development of bespoke treatments for illnesses and improved disease detection, tailored education and legal advice and making more efficient power grids and batteries.

From BBC ● Oct. 26, 2026

They also have the potential to support extraordinarily powerful magnets, making them promising for future power grids, medical scanners, and quantum computers.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 25, 2026

AI is already being used to make electricity grids more efficient in complex energy systems, helping operators manage the variability of solar and wind power.

From Barron's ● Oct. 15, 2026

The company won a major Engineered Systems award for behind-the-meter natural gas-fired generation for a North American data center developer as digital infrastructure providers look for energy outside of regional electric grids.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026

I looked at four maps before finding one where Turner Station wasn’t covered by ads or blow-up grids of other neighborhoods.

From "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot

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Related Words

• framework
• network

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