grate

[ 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.

a fireplace.

verb (used with object), grat·ed, grat·ing.

to furnish with a grate or grates.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of grate

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

Words nearby grate

grass tree, grass up, grass widow, grass widower, grassy, grate, G-rated, grateful, gratefulness, grater, Gratiae

Other definitions for grate (2 of 2)

grate²

[ greyt ]

/ greɪt /

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

to have an irritating or unpleasant effect: His constant chatter grates on my nerves.

to make a sound of, or as if of, rough scraping; rasp.

to sound harshly; jar: to grate on the ear.

to scrape or rub with rough or noisy friction, as one thing on or against another.

verb (used with object), grat·ed, grat·ing.

to reduce to small particles by rubbing against a rough surface or a surface with many sharp-edged openings: to grate a carrot.

to rub together with a harsh, jarring sound: to grate one's teeth.

to irritate or annoy.

Archaic. to wear down or away by rough friction.

OTHER WORDS FOR grate

7 vex, gall, nettle, irk, rile, bug.

See synonyms for grate on Thesaurus.com

Origin of grate

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

Like a cast-iron skillet, cast-iron grates retain heat and displace it effectively, preventing your food from sticking.
Best portable grill for the park, football field, and back yard|Andrew Waite|August 26, 2021|Popular-Science
It’s a series of grates or holes cut into streets and gutters that collect water underground.
Warming cities may see more rain — and frequent flooding|Bethany Brookshire|August 19, 2021|Science News For Students
The important thing is that every day I have reprieve from my internal monologue, that grating negative self-talk, and the millions of small anxieties I’m plagued by.
I Thought I Was a Lifelong New Yorker, but Found Happiness in Reno|Svati Narula|August 12, 2021|Outside Online
Spray it on grill grates and inside the grill, and if your pellet grill has a chimney, remember to clean that, too.
How Do You Clean a Pellet Grill?|wsiler|July 8, 2021|Outside Online

You also can grate and freeze squash in an airtight container for up to a year to take advantage of the peak summer produce all year long.
How to use summer squash: a guide to this bountiful, versatile vegetable|Aaron Hutcherson|July 2, 2021|Washington Post
The dress, which was created by William Travilla, was famously worn by Monroe as she stood over a subway grate.
Kate Middleton Named 2013's Top Beauty Icon; Marilyn Monroe's 'Seven Year Itch' Dress Is History's Most Iconic Film Costume|The Fashion Beast Team|January 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It was kind of like when you walk over a grate and you can hear the subway barreling in.
New York Journalists Remember the First Moments of 9/11|Abby Haglage|September 11, 2013|DAILY BEAST
I occasionally bring it right to the table so people can grate their own.
The 2012 Holiday Kitchen Gift Guide|Megan McArdle|December 13, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Preheat the grill to high heat and brush the grate with oil or spray with nonstick cooking spray.
A Savory Spring Picnic|Jamie & Bobby Deen|April 19, 2011|DAILY BEAST
If you do not have a food processor, grate by hand on a box grater.
Mouth-Watering Potato Pancakes|Jacquelynn D. Powers|December 1, 2010|DAILY BEAST
Cheese is now eaten with apple puddings and pies; but is there any nook in England where they still grate it over plum pudding?
Notes and Queries, Number 178, March 26, 1853|Various
The fire in the rusty grate had been allowed to die out, and its cold grey ashes strewed the hearth.
The Floating Light of the Goodwin Sands|R.M. Ballantyne
Peter came in and lighted the gas, and put more coal on the grate, and said Sam had gone to the station.
The Cromptons|Mary J. Holmes
The rain plashed against the windows, a coal fell through the grate and dropped upon the fender.
Tessa Wadsworth's Discipline|Jennie M. Drinkwater
The size of the flue for an ordinary grate is 149 in.; for a kitchen stove 1414 in.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Part 3|Various

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

grate

Origin of grate

OTHER WORDS FROM grate

Words nearby grate

Other definitions for grate (2 of 2)

OTHER WORDS FOR grate

Origin of grate

Words related to grate

How to use grate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for grate (1 of 2)

Word Origin for grate

British Dictionary definitions for grate (2 of 2)

Word Origin for grate