grid

American  

[grid] / grɪd /

noun

1. a grating of crossed bars; gridiron.

2. Electricity.

   1. a metallic framework employed in a storage cell or battery for conducting the electric current and supporting the active material.

   2. a system of electrical distribution serving a large area, especially by means of high-tension lines.

3. Electronics. an electrode in a vacuum tube, usually consisting of parallel wires, a coil of wire, or a screen, for controlling the flow of electrons between the other electrodes.

4. Surveying. a basic system of reference lines for a region, consisting of straight lines intersecting at right angles.

5. a network of horizontal and perpendicular lines, uniformly spaced, for locating points on a map, chart, or aerial photograph by means of a system of coordinates.

6. Architecture. a rectangular system of coordinates used in locating the principal elements of a plan.

7. grillage.

8. Football. gridiron.

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idioms

1. off grid. See off-grid. Also off the grid

grid British  

/ ɡrɪd /

noun

1. See gridiron

2. a network of horizontal and vertical lines superimposed over a map, building plan, etc, for locating points

3. a grating consisting of parallel bars

4. the national network of transmission lines, pipes, etc, by which electricity, gas, or water is distributed

5. short for national grid

6. Also called: control grid.  electronics

   1. an electrode situated between the cathode and anode of a valve usually consisting of a cylindrical mesh of wires, that controls the flow of electrons between cathode and anode See also screen grid suppressor grid

   2. ( as modifier )

      the grid bias

7. See starting grid

8. a plate in an accumulator that carries the active substance

9. any interconnecting system of links

   the bus service formed a grid across the country

10. Northern English dialect word for face

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Other Word Forms

• gridded adjective

Etymology

Origin of grid

First recorded in 1830–40; short for gridiron

Example Sentences

While the Hormuz closure briefly gave Chinese exporters an edge thanks to their largely self-sufficient power grid, a prolonged war threatened the global demand for Chinese goods.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

From there, two new 500-kilovolt transmission lines will connect to the state’s electric grid — some 400 miles of new line total.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

Data centers do place significant demands on the grid, but new data center demand is only a problem when the grid can’t grow fast enough to support it.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

Several categories of companies stand to benefit from sustained grid investment:

From MarketWatch • Apr. 8, 2026

Her pen whizzed across the grid as she filled in answers.

From "P.S. I Miss You" by Jen Petro-Roy

Related Words

• framework
• network