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grate

1
[ greyt ]
/ greɪt /
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See synonyms for: grate / grating on Thesaurus.com

noun
a frame of metal bars for holding fuel when burning, as in a fireplace, furnace, or stove.
a framework of parallel or crossed bars, used as a partition, guard, cover, or the like; grating.
verb (used with object), grat·ed, grat·ing.
to furnish with a grate or grates.
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Origin of grate

1
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Medieval Latin grāta “a grating, lattice,” variant of crāta, derivative of Latin crāt- (stem of crātis ) “wickerwork, hurdle”; cf. crate

OTHER WORDS FROM grate

grateless, adjectivegratelike, adjective

Other definitions for grate (2 of 2)

grate2
[ greyt ]
/ greɪt /

verb (used without object), grat·ed, grat·ing.
verb (used with object), grat·ed, grat·ing.

Origin of grate

2
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English graten “to reduce to powder, crumble, grate,” from Old French grater, from Germanic; compare German kratzen “to scratch,” Swedish kratta “to rake”
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use grate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for grate (1 of 2)

grate1
/ (ɡreɪt) /

verb
(tr) to reduce to small shreds by rubbing against a rough or sharp perforated surfaceto grate carrots
to scrape (an object) against something or (objects) together, producing a harsh rasping sound, or (of objects) to scrape with such a sound
(intr; foll by on or upon) to annoy
noun
a harsh rasping sound

Word Origin for grate

C15: from Old French grater to scrape, of Germanic origin; compare Old High German krazzōn

British Dictionary definitions for grate (2 of 2)

grate2
/ (ɡreɪt) /

noun
a framework of metal bars for holding fuel in a fireplace, stove, or furnace
a less common word for fireplace
another name for grating 1 (def. 1)
mining a perforated metal screen for grading crushed ore
verb
(tr) to provide with a grate or grates

Word Origin for grate

C14: from Old French grate, from Latin crātis hurdle
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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