grate

1 of 3

noun

ˈgrāt 

1

: grating sense 2

2

a

: a barred frame for cooking over a fire

b

: a frame or bed of iron bars to hold a stove or furnace fire

c

: fireplace

3

obsolete : cage, prison

grate

2 of 3

verb (1)

grated; grating

transitive verb

: to furnish with a grate

the lower windows were grated

grate

3 of 3

verb (2)

grated; grating

transitive verb

1

: to reduce to small particles by rubbing on something rough

grate cheese

2

: fret, irritate

3

a

: to gnash or grind noisily

b

: to cause to make a rasping sound

c

: to utter in a harsh voice

4

archaic : abrade

intransitive verb

1

: to rub or rasp noisily

metal grating against metal

2

: to cause irritation : jar

a voice that grates on the nerves

grater noun

gratingly

ˈgrā-tiŋ-lē 

adverb

Synonyms

Verb (1)

• aggravate
• annoy
• bother
• bug
• burn (up)
• chafe
• eat
• exasperate
• frost
• gall
• get
• gripe
• hack (off)
• irk
• irritate
• itch
• nark [British]
• nettle
• peeve
• persecute
• pique
• put out
• rasp
• rile
• ruffle
• spite
• vex

Examples of grate in a Sentence

Verb (1)

unintentionally or not, you say rude things that grate people

the sled grated along the bare pavement

he grated the pieces of metal together

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

One instance sees Mio melting a metal grate that’s blocking a castle gate before Zoe charges into it to break it open. —Kyle Wilson, Rolling Stone, 4 Mar. 2025

Related Articles Citrus tartlets combine tangy lemon and orange bites in a buttery pastry A veggie quinoa salad for January’s healthy eating resolutions If using a grill, arrange the chicken on the grates over indirect medium heat. —Lynda Balslev, The Mercury News, 28 Jan. 2025

Verb

Dijon mustard 1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese 2 Tbsp. —Elizabeth Nelson, Southern Living, 8 Mar. 2025

In a large bowl, combine ground beef, pork, and veal, plus bread crumbs, fresh parsley, grated Parmesan cheese, kosher salt, black pepper, nutmeg, an egg, and a splash of warm water. —Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb (1)

Middle English, from Medieval Latin crata, grata hurdle, alteration of Latin cratis — more at hurdle

Verb (2)

Middle English, from Anglo-French grater to scratch, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German krazzōn to scratch

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (1)

1547, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for grate

• ate
• bait
• bate
• cate
• crate
• date
• eight
• fait
• fate
• fete
• frate
• freight

Kids Definition

grate

1 of 2 noun

ˈgrāt 

1

: grating sense 1

2

: a frame of iron bars for holding burning fuel (as in a fireplace)

grate

2 of 2 verb

grated; grating

1

: to make into small particles by rubbing against something rough

grate cheese

2

: to grind or rub against something with a scratching noise

3

: to have a harsh or irritating effect

grater noun