graze

¹

[ greyz ]

verb (used without object)

, grazed, graz·ing.

1. to feed on growing grass and pasturage, as do cattle, sheep, etc.
2. Informal. to eat small portions of food, as appetizers or the like, in place of a full-sized meal or to snack during the course of the day in place of regular meals.

verb (used with object)

, grazed, graz·ing.

1. to feed on (growing grass).
2. to put cattle, sheep, etc., to feed on (grass, pastureland, etc.).
3. to tend (cattle, sheep, etc.) while they are at pasture.

graze

²

[ greyz ]

verb (used with object)

, grazed, graz·ing.

1. to touch or rub lightly in passing.
2. to scrape the skin from; abrade:

   The bullet just grazed his shoulder.

verb (used without object)

, grazed, graz·ing.

1. to touch or rub something lightly, or so as to produce slight abrasion, in passing:

   to graze against a rough wall.

noun

1. a touching or rubbing lightly in passing.
2. a slight scratch, scrape, or wound made in passing; abrasion.

graze

¹

/ ɡreɪz /

verb

1. whenintr, often foll by against or along to brush or scrape (against) gently, esp in passing
2. tr to break the skin of (a part of the body) by scraping

noun

1. the act of grazing
2. a scrape or abrasion made by grazing

graze

²

/ ɡreɪz /

verb

1. to allow (animals) to consume the vegetation on (an area of land), or (of animals, esp cows and sheep) to feed thus
2. tr to tend (livestock) while at pasture
3. informal.
   to eat snacks throughout the day rather than formal meals
4. informal.
   to eat
5. informal.
   intr to switch between television channels while viewing without watching any channel for long
6. to pilfer and eat sweets, vegetables, etc, from supermarket shelves while shopping

noun

1. informal.
   a snack; something to eat

Derived Forms

• ˈgrazingly, adverb
• ˈgrazer, noun

Other Words From

• grazea·ble adjective
• grazer noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of graze¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English grasen, Old English grasian, derivative of græs grass

Origin of graze²

First recorded in 1350–1400; perhaps special use of graze ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of graze¹

C17: probably special use of graze ¹; related to Swedish gräsa

Origin of graze²

Old English grasian, from græs grass ; related to Old High German grasōn , Dutch grazen, Norwegian grasa

Example Sentences

Do you browse and graze and get a big picture of the musical multitudes?

From Los Angeles Times

I ask my partner as he rounds a corner with sheep grazing on one side and a cascading waterfall on the other.

From Salon

"I didn't fully know what had happened. I felt enormous pain in both my legs; they were bruised and grazed," the 77-year-old former home secretary and health secretary wrote in the Sun on Sunday.

From BBC

She reported 500 acres of avocado trees damaged or destroyed, 130 acres of citrus trees and 10 acres of raspberries, as well as 2,500 acres used for livestock grazing.

From Los Angeles Times

The most recent was in August, when a bullet grazed his back while he was with his partner, who was also injured.

From BBC

Related Words

• ricochet
• rub
• scrape
• scratch
• skim
• skip