/ greɪt; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
1.
a metal frame for holding the wood or coal in a fireplace
—picture at fireplace
2.
( NAmE ) = drain
■ verb
1.
[ vn ] to rub food against a grater in order to cut it into small pieces :
grated apple / carrot / cheese, etc.
2.
[ v ] grate (on / with sb) to irritate or annoy sb :
Her voice really grates on me.
It grated with him when people implied he wasn't really British.
3.
when two hard surfaces grate as they rub together, they make a sharp unpleasant sound; sb can also make one thing grate against another :
[ v ]
The rusty hinges grated as the gate swung back.
[ vn ]
He grated his knife across the plate.
••
WORD ORIGIN
verb late Middle English : from Old French grater , of Germanic origin; related to German kratzen to scratch.
noun sense 1 Middle English (meaning a grating ): from Old French , based on Latin cratis hurdle.