grout

American  

[grout] / graʊt /

noun

1. a thin, coarse mortar poured into various narrow cavities, as masonry joints or rock fissures, to fill them and consolidate the adjoining objects into a solid mass.

2. a coat of plaster for finishing a ceiling or interior wall.

3. Usually grouts. lees; grounds.

4. Archaic.

   1. coarse meal or porridge.

   2. grouts, groats.

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verb (used with object)

1. to fill or consolidate with grout.

2. to use as grout.

grout British  

/ ɡraʊt /

noun

1. a thin mortar for filling joints between tiles, masonry, etc

2. a fine plaster used as a finishing coat

3. coarse meal or porridge

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verb

1. (tr) to fill (joints) or finish (walls, etc) with grout

Other Word Forms

• grouter noun
• ungrouted adjective

Etymology

Origin of grout

before 1150; Middle English; Old English grūt; see grits, groats, grit

Explanation

Grout is a paste or putty that you use to fill in the spaces between tiles or along the edge of a tub. When grout dries, it keeps tiles in place, and once it's sealed, it protects against moisture. An old-fashioned meaning of grout is "porridge or gruel," from the Old English gruta, "coarse meal," and a root meaning "to grind." These days you don't eat grout, but instead use it in home improvement projects, especially between floor or wall tiles. As a verb, to grout means "to apply grout."

Example Sentences

She made several smaller works but in the same style of her large work, out of acrylic and grout.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 17, 2024

A mix of “fine naturally active stones and activated fine metal, grout, sands and proprietary polymers that are manufactured with a special technology,” according to the company.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 31, 2024

From the acidic brine of pickle juice to the grout between your bathroom tiles, mold can thrive in even the most inhospitable environments.

From National Geographic • Nov. 10, 2023

Bathroom cleaning: Protect your tiles and grout instead of trying to rescue them.

From New York Times • Jun. 8, 2023

His own room was the size of our downstairs, and he had his own bathroom and tile with the grout still around it.

From "Okay for Now" by Gary D. Schmidt

Related Words

• adhesive
• mud
• plaster
• sand