1
2
a
: a barred frame for cooking over a fire
b
: a frame or bed of iron bars to hold a stove or furnace fire
c
grated; grating
: to furnish with a grate
the lower windows were grated
grated; grating
1
: to reduce to small particles by rubbing on something rough
grate cheese
3
a
: to gnash or grind noisily
b
: to cause to make a rasping sound
c
: to utter in a harsh voice
4
archaic
: abrade
1
: to rub or rasp noisily
metal grating against metal
2
: to cause irritation : jar
a voice that grates on the nerves
grater
noun
Synonyms
Examples of grate in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Maryal Miller Carter, USA TODAY, 11 Apr. 2024
The lobby was once heated by steam rising through grates in the floor.
—Molly Young, New York Times, 19 Mar. 2024
Fire the grill or campfire to medium-high heat and position the grill grate 4 inches above the coals.
2.
—Cindy Dampier, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024
Now, these steel grate pieces go on sale every couple of months, with the last purchase period in August 2023.
—Detroit Free Press, 29 Jan. 2024
The sewer pipes are typically covered with grates that prevent people from using them, which connect the U.S. and Mexico at multiple points, but those grates are removed during periods of heavy rain to allow water to flow without damaging the system.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 22 Mar. 2024
In 2015, the first robot to go inside got stuck on a grate.
—Mari Yamaguchi, Quartz, 28 Feb. 2024
The half chicken is brined for 24 hours, marinated for three days, grilled for a crispy skin and then roasted in a wood-fire oven blazing in the center of the kitchen before it’s finished on an open grill grate.
—Carlos Frías, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024
The latest appliances can chop, shred, slice, grind, grate, dice, knead, and puree at the touch of a button.
—Emily Peck, WIRED, 27 Dec. 2023
Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 2 Apr. 2024
Stainless steel Cooking grates material: Stainless steel Number of burners: 4
Total BTUs: 72,000
Cooking area: 918 sq. in.
—Emily Farris, Bon Appétit, 28 Mar. 2024
More flavor spikes to have on hand Aleppo pepper, smoked paprika, brewer’s yeast, lime and lemon juice, grated lemon peel, fish sauce, Parmesan cheese rinds, finishing salts.
—Michelle Huneven, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2024
Garnish with a fresh mint sprig and grated orange zest.
—Dominique Fluker, Essence, 22 Mar. 2024
Slice, dice, and mince with this 4-in-1 vegetable chopper that comes with four blades to chop, shred, grate, and more.
—Toni Sutton, Peoplemag, 21 Mar. 2024
Prices: Ravioli $15 per box of 50, meatballs $10 for 10, sauce $10 per quart, grated cheese $8 per container.
—Luann Gibbs, The Enquirer, 20 Mar. 2024
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle famously sent Sherlock Holmes hurtling to his death over the Reichenbach Falls: His tiresome infallibility must have grated on Doyle, who saw himself as destined for a more highbrow literary fame than 19th-century detective fiction allowed.
—Hillary Kelly, The Atlantic, 11 Mar. 2024
That same simplicity and attention to ingredients applies to other Spanish tapas, from tortilla de patatas (Spanish tortilla) to pan con tomate (grated fresh tomato on bread) or gazpacho.
—Laura McLively, The Mercury News, 6 Mar. 2024
Noun
Using hot water, dish soap and a scrub brush, thoroughly scrub your stove grates.
—Maryal Miller Carter, USA TODAY, 11 Apr. 2024
The lobby was once heated by steam rising through grates in the floor.
—Molly Young, New York Times, 19 Mar. 2024
Fire the grill or campfire to medium-high heat and position the grill grate 4 inches above the coals.
2.
—Cindy Dampier, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024
Now, these steel grate pieces go on sale every couple of months, with the last purchase period in August 2023.
—Detroit Free Press, 29 Jan. 2024
The sewer pipes are typically covered with grates that prevent people from using them, which connect the U.S. and Mexico at multiple points, but those grates are removed during periods of heavy rain to allow water to flow without damaging the system.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 22 Mar. 2024
In 2015, the first robot to go inside got stuck on a grate.
—Mari Yamaguchi, Quartz, 28 Feb. 2024
The half chicken is brined for 24 hours, marinated for three days, grilled for a crispy skin and then roasted in a wood-fire oven blazing in the center of the kitchen before it’s finished on an open grill grate.
—Carlos Frías, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024
The latest appliances can chop, shred, slice, grind, grate, dice, knead, and puree at the touch of a button.
—Emily Peck, WIRED, 27 Dec. 2023
Verb
At such a length, indulgences and missteps do grate.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 2 Apr. 2024
Stainless steel Cooking grates material: Stainless steel Number of burners: 4
Total BTUs: 72,000
Cooking area: 918 sq. in.
—Emily Farris, Bon Appétit, 28 Mar. 2024
More flavor spikes to have on hand Aleppo pepper, smoked paprika, brewer’s yeast, lime and lemon juice, grated lemon peel, fish sauce, Parmesan cheese rinds, finishing salts.
—Michelle Huneven, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2024
Garnish with a fresh mint sprig and grated orange zest.
—Dominique Fluker, Essence, 22 Mar. 2024
Slice, dice, and mince with this 4-in-1 vegetable chopper that comes with four blades to chop, shred, grate, and more.
—Toni Sutton, Peoplemag, 21 Mar. 2024
Prices: Ravioli $15 per box of 50, meatballs $10 for 10, sauce $10 per quart, grated cheese $8 per container.
—Luann Gibbs, The Enquirer, 20 Mar. 2024
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle famously sent Sherlock Holmes hurtling to his death over the Reichenbach Falls: His tiresome infallibility must have grated on Doyle, who saw himself as destined for a more highbrow literary fame than 19th-century detective fiction allowed.
—Hillary Kelly, The Atlantic, 11 Mar. 2024
That same simplicity and attention to ingredients applies to other Spanish tapas, from tortilla de patatas (Spanish tortilla) to pan con tomate (grated fresh tomato on bread) or gazpacho.
—Laura McLively, The Mercury News, 6 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'grate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near grate
Cite this Entry
“Grate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grate. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
grate
1 of 2 noun1
2
: a frame of iron bars for holding burning fuel (as in a fireplace)
grate
2 of 2 verb
grated; grating
1
: to make into small particles by rubbing against something rough
grate cheese
2
: to grind or rub against something with a scratching noise
3
: to have a harsh or irritating effect
grater
noun
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