grate

¹

[greyt]

noun

1. a frame of metal bars for holding fuel when burning, as in a fireplace, furnace, or stove.

2. a framework of parallel or crossed bars, used as a partition, guard, cover, or the like; grating.

3. a fireplace.

verb (used with object)

grated, grating 

1. to furnish with a grate or grates.

grate

²

[greyt]

verb (used without object)

grated, grating 

1. to have an irritating or unpleasant effect.

   His constant chatter grates on my nerves.

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

3. to sound harshly; jar.

   to grate on the ear.

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

verb (used with object)

grated, grating 

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

   to grate a carrot.

2. to rub together with a harsh, jarring sound.

   to grate one's teeth.

3. to irritate or annoy.

   Synonyms: bug, rile, irk, nettle, gall, vex

4. Archaic.,  to wear down or away by rough friction.

grate

¹

/ ɡreɪt /

noun

1. a framework of metal bars for holding fuel in a fireplace, stove, or furnace

2. a less common word for fireplace

3. another name for grating 1

4. mining a perforated metal screen for grading crushed ore

verb

1. (tr) to provide with a grate or grates

grate

²

/ ɡreɪt /

verb

1. (tr) to reduce to small shreds by rubbing against a rough or sharp perforated surface

   to grate carrots

2. to scrape (an object) against something or (objects) together, producing a harsh rasping sound, or (of objects) to scrape with such a sound

3. (intr; foll by on or upon) to annoy

noun

1. a harsh rasping sound

Other Word Forms

• grateless adjective
• gratelike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of grate¹

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”; crate

Origin of grate²

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”

Word History and Origins

Origin of grate¹

C14: from Old French grate, from Latin crātis hurdle

Origin of grate²

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

Example Sentences

The resulting crumbs were fried in olive oil with ¼ teaspoon of Italian seasoning and grated Parmesan until crisp.

Read more on Salon

Special strainers for grating and juicing tomatoes gained a place among kitchen furnishings.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The tax charged on agricultural exports grates on people like Marcos Pereda, who operates a grain farm north of Buenos Aires and a cattle farm to the west.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“There’s a steel grate, and the water runs underneath the grate, underneath the tunnel, below PCH, and right onto the sand and right out into the bay. This is a real public hazard.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

He had high hopes putting a businessman in the White House and, although he found the president’s monster ego grating, Mahan voted for his reelection.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• mince 
• rub