grate
1 Americanverb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
-
to reduce to small particles by rubbing against a rough surface or a surface with many sharp-edged openings.
to grate a carrot.
-
to rub together with a harsh, jarring sound.
to grate one's teeth.
-
to irritate or annoy.
-
Archaic. to wear down or away by rough friction.
noun
verb
verb
-
(tr) to reduce to small shreds by rubbing against a rough or sharp perforated surface
to grate carrots
-
to scrape (an object) against something or (objects) together, producing a harsh rasping sound, or (of objects) to scrape with such a sound
-
(intr; foll by on or upon) to annoy
noun
Other Word Forms
- grateless adjective
- gratelike adjective
Etymology
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”
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
They questioned what school she went to and laughed when she brought a bag of grated cheddar to a party, to contribute to the cheeseboard.
From BBC
In Manhattan: While standing over a subway grate at 52nd Street and Lexington Avenue, Marilyn Monroe holds down her white billowing dress for “The Seven Year Itch.”
A source said that "there were some issues of personal style that grated with people."
From BBC
The result was splendid—but only after I’d compensated for a carelessly omitted detail about when to add 10 ounces of grated cheese.
A microplane is core to the way I cook because I use a lot of lemon zest and grated garlic.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
