grille
1 Americannoun
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a grating or openwork barrier, as for a gate, usually of metal and often of decorative design.
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an opening, usually covered by grillwork, for admitting air to cool the engine of an automobile or the like; radiator grille.
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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.
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a ticket window covered by a grating.
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Court Tennis. a square-shaped winning opening on the hazard side of the court.
adjective
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cooked on a grill; broiled.
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Textiles. having an ornamental bar or grate pattern across the open areas of a lace motif.
noun
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Also called: grillwork. a framework, esp of metal bars arranged to form an ornamental pattern, used as a screen or partition
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Also called: radiator grille. a grating, often chromium-plated, that admits cooling air to the radiator of a motor vehicle
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a metal or wooden openwork grating used as a screen or divider
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a protective screen, usually plastic or metal, in front of the loudspeaker in a radio, record player, etc
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real tennis the opening in one corner of the receiver's end of the court
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a group of small pyramidal marks impressed in parallel rows into a stamp to prevent reuse
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of grille1
1655–65; < French, Old French < Late Latin *gratīcula, Latin crātīcula (compare Old Provençal grazilha ), diminutive of crātis
Origin of grillé2
1680–90; < French: grilled; see grille
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The polycarbonate grille form dominates the down-the-road aspect, with its nailhead-like pattern illuminated along the perimeter.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 16, 2026
While not as obvious, the lower grille area is also dotted with monograms.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 2, 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
Swinging the ball and crashing into the toes, pads or grille was, like Johnson, Wasim and so many other left-armers before him, Starc's main approach during the first two-thirds of his career.
From BBC ● Jan. 1, 2026
"That grille helps help keep bad people out," Patti says.
From "Born Behind Bars" by Padma Venkatraman
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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.