grid

American  

[grid] / grɪd /

noun

• grids
  plural

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

Derived Forms

• gridded
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• grids
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of grid

First recorded in 1830–40; short for gridiron

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Explanation

A grid is a network of intersecting parallel lines, whether real or imaginary. Most American streets are laid out in a grid pattern, meaning the streets intersect at right angles and form a pattern of squares when viewed from above. You've probably seen a map grid, the uniform lines drawn on a map that allow you to pinpoint a particular location. Grid can also refer to a physical network of sorts, not necessarily made of straight or parallel lines. You may be familiar with the high voltage electrical cables that carry power throughout the country, known as the national grid. A grid can also be a device made up of intersecting metal bars that you use when grilling food.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

grid grids

At the end of the formation lap, every single car pitted for dry-weather slick tyres bar Hamilton, who took to the grid on his own.

From BBC ● Nov. 4, 2026

The company said it would work to "bolster local water security, and add more than one gigawatt of clean energy capacity" to the national grid.

From Barron's ● Nov. 4, 2026

Walter owns a majority of the team, which joined the grid this season, and is seeking to sell a chunk at a valuation of at least $3 billion, the people said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 3, 2026

The company also enjoys tailwinds such as its operational scale, in-house equipment capabilities and premier land and grid positions, they added.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 3, 2026

He could see the grid, the intersecting lines and triangles, glowing green on the floor.

From "The Smartest Kid in the Universe" by Chris Grabenstein

I sat there, sketching grids on a legal pad, trying to figure out how this new type of publication would work.

From Slate ● Nov. 6, 2026

While solar and wind power are being produced in growing quantities, ageing grids and a lack of storage sometimes mean those sources cannot be used as efficiently as they could be.

From Barron's ● Nov. 4, 2026

Such hypothetical benefits include progress in healthcare, like the development of bespoke treatments for illnesses and improved disease detection, tailored education and legal advice and making more efficient power grids and batteries.

From BBC ● Oct. 26, 2026

They also expanded the program to channel funding in areas like power grids, communications and logistics.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026

I crouched down some more to get a closer peek inside one of our girder grids.

From "The Stars Beneath Our Feet" by David Barclay Moore

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Related Words

• framework
• network

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