grate

¹

[ greyt ]

noun

1. a frame of metal bars for holding fuel when burning, as in a fireplace, furnace, or stove.
2. a framework of parallel or crossed bars, used as a partition, guard, cover, or the like; grating.
3. a fireplace.

verb (used with object)

, grat·ed, grat·ing.

1. to furnish with a grate or grates.

grate

²

[ greyt ]

verb (used without object)

, grat·ed, grat·ing.

1. to have an irritating or unpleasant effect:

   His constant chatter grates on my nerves.

2. to make a sound of, or as if of, rough scraping; rasp.
3. to sound harshly; jar:

   to grate on the ear.

4. to scrape or rub with rough or noisy friction, as one thing on or against another.

verb (used with object)

, grat·ed, grat·ing.

1. to reduce to small particles by rubbing against a rough surface or a surface with many sharp-edged openings:

   to grate a carrot.

2. to rub together with a harsh, jarring sound:

   to grate one's teeth.

3. to irritate or annoy.

   Synonyms: bug, rile, irk, nettle, gall, vex

4. Archaic. to wear down or away by rough friction.

grate

¹

/ ɡreɪt /

verb

1. tr to reduce to small shreds by rubbing against a rough or sharp perforated surface

   to grate carrots

2. to scrape (an object) against something or (objects) together, producing a harsh rasping sound, or (of objects) to scrape with such a sound
3. intr; foll by on or upon to annoy

noun

1. a harsh rasping sound

grate

²

/ ɡreɪt /

noun

1. a framework of metal bars for holding fuel in a fireplace, stove, or furnace
2. a less common word for fireplace
3. another name for grating 1
4. mining a perforated metal screen for grading crushed ore

verb

1. tr to provide with a grate or grates

Other Words From

• grateless adjective
• gratelike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of grate¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Medieval Latin grāta “a grating, lattice,” variant of crāta, derivative of Latin crāt- (stem of crātis ) “wickerwork, hurdle”; crate

Origin of grate²

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English graten “to reduce to powder, crumble, grate,” from Old French grater, from Germanic; compare German kratzen “to scratch,” Swedish kratta “to rake”

Word History and Origins

Origin of grate¹

C15: from Old French grater to scrape, of Germanic origin; compare Old High German krazzōn

Origin of grate²

C14: from Old French grate, from Latin crātis hurdle

Example Sentences

The theft made global headlines, and was nicknamed “the grate cheese robbery”.

From BBC

Jack pushed back from the grate, his eyes wide.

From Literature

May shushed him, then bent over and grabbed the grate.

From Literature

May pulled and pulled, but the grate never budged.

From Literature

Jack chose to ignore that last comment and turned his attention to the grate.

From Literature

Related Words

• mince
• rub