gridiron
Americannoun
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a football field.
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a utensil consisting of parallel metal bars on which to broil meat or other food.
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any framework or network resembling a gridiron.
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a structure above the stage of a theater, from which hung scenery and the like are manipulated.
verb (used with object)
noun
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a utensil of parallel metal bars, used to grill meat, fish, etc
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any framework resembling this utensil
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a framework above the stage in a theatre from which suspended scenery, lights, etc, are manipulated
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the field of play in American football
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an informal name for American football
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( as modifier )
a gridiron hero
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Etymology
Origin of gridiron
1250–1300; Middle English gridirne, gridir ( e ), gridere, variant of gridel griddle; variants in -irne, -ire, etc. are associated by folk etymology with ModE variant irne, ire iron
Explanation
A gridiron is a metal grill used for cooking food over a fire. Don't throw your burgers on your friend's gridiron if she's a strict vegetarian! Just as the word implies, a gridiron is a grid, or two crossed sets of parallel bars, made of iron (or another kind of metal). In addition to cooking gridirons, there are also gridirons that support heavy equipment on film sets. In sports, gridiron is another name for an American football field, marked off in grid-like yard lines. Gridiron shares a Latin root with griddle.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The Hoosiers are all the way up to No. 2, behind only the Columbus Gridiron Death Star, Ohio State.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 20, 2025
Training schools have been set up for wannabe Aussie punters, including Bennett’s own Gridiron Company, and ProKick Australia, which launched in 2007.
From BBC • Nov. 12, 2024
The Gridiron Club, one of the oldest journalism associations in Washington, hosted the dinner at the Grand Hyatt in Washington.
From New York Times • Mar. 17, 2024
City Gridiron Classic, the event will have players nominated by their coaches, and players who participate in each practice will be guaranteed of playing at least two series.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 28, 2023
"It is not!" cried Gridiron Broiler angrily clicking his wires.
From The Mary Frances Cook Book Adventures Among the Kitchen People by Fryer, Jane Earye
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
