grate Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a frame of iron bars to hold a fire
    grating.
  2. noun a harsh rasping sound made by scraping something
  3. noun a barrier that has parallel or crossed bars blocking a passage but admitting air
    grating.
  4. verb furnish with a grate
    • a grated fireplace
  5. verb gnaw into; make resentful or angry
    fret; rankle; eat into.
    • The injustice rankled her
    • his resentment festered
  6. verb reduce to small shreds or pulverize by rubbing against a rough or sharp perforated surface
    • grate carrots and onions
    • grate nutmeg
  7. verb make a grating or grinding sound by rubbing together
    grind.
    • grate one's teeth in anger
  8. verb scratch repeatedly
    scrape.
    • The cat scraped at the armchair

WordNet

Grate adjective
Etymology
L. gratus agreeable, grateful: cf. It. & Sp. grato. See Grace, and cf. Agree.
Definitions
  1. Serving to gratify; agreeable. Obs. Sir T. Herbert.
Grate noun
Etymology
LL.. grata, fr. L. crates hurdle; or It. grata, of the same origin. Sae Crate, Hurdle.
Definitions
  1. A structure or frame containing parallel or crosed bars, with interstices; a kind of latticework, such as is used ia the windows of prisons and cloisters. "A secret grate of iron bars." Shak.
  2. A frame or bed, or kind of basket, of iron bars, for holding fuel while burning.
Grate transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Grated; present participle & verbal noun Grating
Definitions
  1. To furnish with grates; to protect with a grating or crossbars; as, to grate a window.
Grate transitive verb
Etymology
OF grater to scrape, scratch, F. gratter, LL. gratare, cratare; of German origin; cf. OHG. chrazz&omac;n G. kratzen, D. krassen, Sw. Kratta, and perh. E. scratch.
Definitions
  1. To rub roughly or harshly, as one body against another, causing a harsh sound; as, to grate the teeth; to produce (a harsh sound) by rubbing.
    On their hinges grate Harsh thunder. Milton.
  2. To reduce to small particles by rubbing with anything rough or indented; as, to grate a nutmeg.
  3. To fret; to irritate; to offend.
    News, my good lord Rome . . . grates me. Shak.
Grate intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To make a harsh sound by friction.
    I had rather hear a brazen canstick turned, Or a dry wheel grate on the exletree. Shak.
  2. To produce the effect of rubbing with a hard rough material; to cause wearing, tearing, or bruising. Hence; To produce exasperation, soreness, or grief; to offend by oppression or importunity.
    This grated harder upon the hearts of men. South.

Webster 1913