Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- intransitive verb To reduce to fragments, shreds, or powder by rubbing against an abrasive surface.
- intransitive verb To cause to make a harsh grinding or rasping sound through friction.
- intransitive verb To irritate or annoy persistently.
- intransitive verb Archaic To rub or wear away.
- intransitive verb To make a harsh rasping sound.
- intransitive verb To cause irritation or annoyance.
- noun A harsh rasping sound made by scraping or rubbing.
- noun A framework of parallel or latticed bars for blocking an opening.
- noun A framework of metal bars used to hold fuel or food in a stove, furnace, or fireplace.
- noun A fireplace.
- noun A perforated iron plate or screen for sieving and grading crushed ore.
- transitive verb To equip with a grate.
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun A grater.
- noun A partition made with bars parallel to or crossing one another; a framework of bars in a door, window, hatchway, or other opening.
- noun A frame of metal bars in which fuel is burned, especially coal.
- noun The floor of a fire-box or furnace, formed of a series or group of bars; the bottom of a furnace, on which the fuel rests, and through which it is supplied with air.
- noun In metallurgy: A perforated metal plate used in the stamping of ores, through which the pounded ore passes.
- noun A screen.
- noun An ore-roasting furnace with a grate revolving horizontally.
- To furnish with a grate or grates; fill in with cross-bars: as, to
grate a window. - Pleasant; agreeable.
- To rub together or against strongly so as to produce a harsh scraping sound: as, to
grate the teeth. - To reduce to small particles by rubbing or rasping with something rough or indented: as, to
grate a nutmeg or the peel of a lemon. - To affect harshly and painfully, as if by abrasion; fret.
- To produce a harsh or jarring sound of, as by the friction of rough bodies.
- To scratch or scrape with; use for attrition or abrasion.
- To make a harsh or rasping sound by friction or attrition; give out a scraping noise.
- To produce a harsh impression; cause irritation or chafing.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- adjective obsolete Serving to gratify; agreeable.
- intransitive verb To make a harsh sound by friction.
- intransitive verb 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.
- noun 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.
- noun A frame or bed, or kind of basket, of iron bars, for holding fuel while burning.
- noun (Steam, Boiler) the area of the surface of the grate upon which the fuel lies in the furnace.
- transitive verb To furnish with grates; to protect with a grating or crossbars.
- transitive verb To rub roughly or harshly, as one body against another, causing a harsh sound; ; to produce (a harsh sound) by rubbing.
- transitive verb To reduce to small particles by rubbing with anything rough or indented.
- transitive verb To fret; to irritate; to offend.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- verb transitive, cooking To
shred things, usually foodstuffs, byrubbing across agrater . - verb intransitive To rub against, making a (usually unpleasant) squeaking sound.
- verb by extension To grate on one’s nerves; to
irritate orannoy . - noun A
horizontal metalgrille through which water, ash, or small objects can fall, while larger objects cannot.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- verb make a grating or grinding sound by rubbing together
- noun a harsh rasping sound made by scraping something
- noun a barrier that has parallel or crossed bars blocking a passage but admitting air
- verb gnaw into; make resentful or angry
- verb scratch repeatedly
- noun a frame of iron bars to hold a fire
- verb reduce to small shreds or pulverize by rubbing against a rough or sharp perforated surface
- verb furnish with a grate
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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A moderate fire in the grate is the only mode of heating, and they seem quite oblivious to the danger of throwing a door open into a cold hall at one's back, while the servants pass in and out with the various courses at dinner.
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Lenz: There was something really appealing to me about standing around the drain grate tasting barrel samples from an old juice container.
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Lenz: There was something really appealing to me about standing around the drain grate tasting barrel samples from an old juice container.
LENNDEVOURS: 2009
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Lenz: There was something really appealing to me about standing around the drain grate tasting barrel samples from an old juice container.
TasteCamp 2009
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This so-called 'drainage' grate is located at the west end of the ravine.
West Lynn Avenue 2008
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Another common fault in modern fireplaces is, that they are too shallow to allow sufficient space for the grate; and, when the grate is set too far forward into the room, it is evident that a very strong draught will be required to draw the smoke up the chimney.
The Lady's Country Companion: or, How to Enjoy a Country Life Rationally Jane 1845
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The sound of crackle in the grate is the most welcoming soundtrack to an evening with friends.
Hearths Aflame Rita Konig 2010
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I like a lively debate but the insults and name-calling grate after a while.
What's Next: The Battle For Edwards Delegates And Supporters 2009
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I like a lively debate but the insults and name-calling grate after a while.
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A fire burning low in the grate was the sole light of the apartment; its beams flashed mockingly on the somewhat showy Versaillese furniture and gilding here, in style as unlike that of the structural parts of the building as it was possible to be, and probably introduced by
The Woodlanders 2006
fbharjo commented on the word grate
as in ingrate
February 9, 2009