a grating or openwork barrier, as for a gate, usually of metal and often of decorative design.
an opening, usually covered by grillwork, for admitting air to cool the engine of an automobile or the like; radiator grille.
any of various perforated screens, sheets, etc., used to cover something, as on a radio for protecting the amplifier or in cryptography for coding purposes.
a ticket window covered by a grating.
Court Tennis. a square-shaped winning opening on the hazard side of the court.
cooked on a grill; broiled.
Textiles. having an ornamental bar or grate pattern across the open areas of a lace motif.
Also called: grillwork. a framework, esp of metal bars arranged to form an ornamental pattern, used as a screen or partition
Also called: radiator grille. a grating, often chromium-plated, that admits cooling air to the radiator of a motor vehicle
a metal or wooden openwork grating used as a screen or divider
a protective screen, usually plastic or metal, in front of the loudspeaker in a radio, record player, etc
real tennis the opening in one corner of the receiver's end of the court
a group of small pyramidal marks impressed in parallel rows into a stamp to prevent reuse
1655–65; < French, Old French < Late Latin *gratīcula, Latin crātīcula (compare Old Provençal grazilha ), diminutive of crātis
1680–90; < French: grilled; see grille
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Yet the series allows Lilypad to be a more sympathetic antagonist than the teddy bear it once tied to the grille of a garbage truck in “Toy Story 3.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 18, 2026
The Black Badge specification features a dark-anodized grille and hood figurine in the place of chrome brightwork—younger, fresher, more nocturnal, but also nicely understated, which I like.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 4, 2026
Since the theft the museum has taken several emergency measures, including replacing the grille used by the thieves as Des Cars sought to focus on a major "Louvre -- New Renaissance" renovation of the site.
From Barron's ● Feb. 25, 2026
A Southern California driver made a startling discovery Sunday morning when they found a live bird of prey stuck in the grille of their car.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 21, 2025
The Guardian closes and locks the double doors and climbs into the front, beside the driver; through the glassed-over wire grille we can see the backs of their heads'.
From "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
