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

Related Words

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