grate

1 of 3

noun

1
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
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
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 adverb

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
Beyond construction, the material of the grates matters. Carrie Honaker, Southern Living, 21 Oct. 2024 Many of us have experienced knee crepitus, the medical term for when your knees audibly crack, pop, click, grate or grind during movement. New Atlas, 10 Oct. 2024 Along with storm drains, make sure to keep you leaf piles away from sewer grates and low-hanging trees. Maia Pandey, Journal Sentinel, 9 Oct. 2024 Make sure the grill is heated, and swipe the halves carefully through the grates. Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 6 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for grate 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'grate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of grate was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near grate

Cite this Entry

“Grate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grate. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

grate

1 of 2 noun
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

More from Merriam-Webster on grate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!