grating

¹

[grey-ting]

noun

1. a fixed frame of bars or the like covering an opening to exclude persons, animals, coarse material, or objects while admitting light, air, or fine material.

2. Physics.,  diffraction grating.

grating

²

[grey-ting]

adjective

1. irritating or unpleasant to one's feelings.

2. (of a sound or noise) harsh, discordant, or rasping.

grating

¹

/ ˈɡreɪtɪŋ /

adjective

1. (of sounds) harsh and rasping

2. annoying; irritating

noun

1. (often plural) something produced by grating

grating

²

/ ˈɡreɪtɪŋ /

noun

1. Also called: grate. a framework of metal bars in the form of a grille set into a wall, pavement, etc, serving as a cover or guard but admitting air and sometimes light

2. short for diffraction grating

Other Word Forms

• gratingly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of grating¹

First recorded in 1605–15; grat(e) ¹ + -ing ¹

Origin of grating²

First recorded in 1555–65; grat(e) ² + -ing ²

Example Sentences

The presence of the surly uncle, insufferable in-law, or grating girlfriend at the holiday table can make it hard to truly count one’s blessings.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

She listened for the grating chug of the wheels and metal-on-metal screech of the brakes as the train rounded each curve, but it was still too far away.

Read more on Literature

As pleasant as it was to escape the grating prattle of Lady Constance and the bizarre behavior of Lord Fredrick, it also felt oddly sad to be the one left behind.

Read more on Literature

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

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

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