grater

[ grey-ter ]

/ ˈgreɪ tər /

Save This Word!

noun

a person or thing that grates.

any of various kitchen devices for grating food: a cheese grater.

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

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

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

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of grater

1400–50; late Middle English. See grate², -er¹

Words nearby grater

grassy, grate, G-rated, grateful, gratefulness, grater, Gratiae, Gratian, graticule, gratification, gratify

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use grater in a sentence

Cut the orange in half through its equator and, using a microplane or fine grater, zest one half.
A one-pan salmon dinner with minty peas, orange and fennel|Daniela Galarza|April 1, 2021|Washington Post
We use the old-style "knuckle-buster" metal box grater, but we turn it on its side.
Hints From Heloise: Reader isn’t in the tank for tankless water heater|Heloise Heloise|March 25, 2021|Washington Post
Then, with a handheld grater or the grating attachment of a food processor, shred the potatoes.
How to make crispy shredded hash browns part of your breakfast rotation|Aaron Hutcherson|March 19, 2021|Washington Post
Pots, pans, graters, presses, measuring utensils are everywhere, and every surface — including the surrounding floor — is littered with slops, spills, skins, peels, etc.
Carolyn Hax: How to improve on ‘I cook, you clean’ without stirring the pot|Carolyn Hax|February 12, 2021|Washington Post

Stocking Stuffers: Under $25 Microplane grater Every year I lead off with this, and why not?
The 2012 Holiday Kitchen Gift Guide|Megan McArdle|December 13, 2012|DAILY BEAST
I have to admit that in the beginning of my potato pancake-making career, I used a box grater.
Mouth-Watering Potato Pancakes|Jacquelynn D. Powers|December 1, 2010|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
More like the noise of powdering an iron bar on a nutmeg-grater, suggested Brittle.
Oliver Twist, Vol. II (of 3)|Charles Dickens
And as all the others had the obvious things—such as a nutmeg-grater or a neck of mutton, or a nomlette—my five won easily.
Happy Days|Alan Alexander Milne
To prepare an onion in this way, peel it, cut off a crosswise slice, and then grate the onion on a grater over a shallow dish.
Woman's Institute Library of Cookery, Vol. 2|Woman's Institute of Domestic Arts and Sciences
Then Lockley looked down at the cheese grater-pocket radio device of his own manufacture.
Operation Terror|William Fitzgerald Jenkins
For his purpose he carried the strangest of equipment, a device made of a pocket radio and a cheese grater.
Operation Terror|William Fitzgerald Jenkins

British Dictionary definitions for grater

grater

/ (ˈɡreɪtə) /

noun

a kitchen utensil with sharp-edged perforations for grating carrots, cheese, etc

a person or thing that grates

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