graze
1[ greyz ]
/ greɪz /
verb (used without object), grazed, graz·ing.
to feed on growing grass and pasturage, as do cattle, sheep, etc.
Informal. to eat small portions of food, as appetizers or the like, in place of a full-sized meal or to snack during the course of the day in place of regular meals.
verb (used with object), grazed, graz·ing.
to feed on (growing grass).
to put cattle, sheep, etc., to feed on (grass, pastureland, etc.).
to tend (cattle, sheep, etc.) while they are at pasture.
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Nearby words
Origin of graze
1Related forms
graze·a·ble, adjectivegraz·er, nounDefinition for graze (2 of 2)
graze
2[ greyz ]
/ greɪz /
verb (used with object), grazed, graz·ing.
to touch or rub lightly in passing.
to scrape the skin from; abrade: The bullet just grazed his shoulder.
verb (used without object), grazed, graz·ing.
to touch or rub something lightly, or so as to produce slight abrasion, in passing: to graze against a rough wall.
noun
a touching or rubbing lightly in passing.
a slight scratch, scrape, or wound made in passing; abrasion.
Origin of graze
21595–1605; perhaps special use of graze1; for the semantic shift compare French effleurer, derivative of fleur flower, in the same meaning
Related forms
graz·er, noungraz·ing·ly, adverbDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for graze
British Dictionary definitions for graze (1 of 2)
graze
1/ (ɡreɪz) /
verb
noun
Southern African informal a snack; something to eat
Word Origin for graze
Old English grasian, from græs grass; related to Old High German grasōn, Dutch grazen, Norwegian grasa
British Dictionary definitions for graze (2 of 2)
graze
2/ (ɡreɪz) /
verb
(when intr, often foll by against or along) to brush or scrape (against) gently, esp in passing
(tr) to break the skin of (a part of the body) by scraping
noun
the act of grazing
a scrape or abrasion made by grazing
Derived Forms
grazer, noungrazingly, adverbWord Origin for graze
C17: probably special use of graze 1; related to Swedish gräsa
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