Meaning

A horizontal metal grill through which liquid, ash, or small objects can fall, while larger objects cannot..

Definitions by Sense

1. A horizontal metal grill through which liquid, ash, or small objects can fall, while larger objects cannot.
2. A frame or bed, or kind of basket, of iron bars, for holding fuel while burning.
3. (historical) A grapper, a metal ring on a lance behind the grip.
4. (transitive) To furnish with grates; to protect with a grating or crossbars.
5. (transitive, cooking) To shred (things, usually foodstuffs), by rubbing across a grater.
6. (intransitive) To make an unpleasant rasping sound, often as the result of rubbing against something.
7. (by extension, intransitive) To get on one's nerves; to irritate, annoy.
8. (by extension, transitive) To annoy.

Example Sentences

The grate stopped the sheep from escaping from their field.

a secret grate of iron bars

Lances (only shown at Stoke D'Abernon) were commonly made of ash, about 13 feet long. A ring of metal (grate or grapper) was fastened to the shaft and during a fight[…]

[…] and a heavy metal ring, called the grate or graper, fastened to the shaft below the grip. The grate rested against the knight's breastplate and relieved the hand and arm of the full shock of contact. The metallic head (or socket) of the war lance was usually leaf shaped, while that of the tilting lance, at least from[…]

to grate a window

I need to grate the cheese before the potato is cooked.

1856, Gustave Flaubert, Madame Bovary, Part 3 Chapter X, translated by Eleanor Marx-Aveling The gate suddenly grated. It was Lestiboudois; he came to fetch his spade, that he had forgotten. He recognised Justin climbing over the wall, and at last knew who was the culprit who stole his potatoes.

Listening to his teeth grate all day long drives me mad.

Word Forms

• grates
• grating
• grated
• more grate
• most grate

Synonyms for grate

Related Words

When Should You Use Grate?

Use grate when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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