GRATE


Meaning of GRATE in English

I. ˈgrāt, usu -ād.+V noun

( -s )

Etymology: Middle English, from Medieval Latin grata, crata, modification of Latin cratis latticework, hurdle — more at hurdle

1.

a. archaic : an enclosing railing often of ornately wrought iron

b. obsolete : cage , prison

2. : a frame containing parallel or crossed bars forming an open latticework, permitting the passage of light, air, liquid, or sound, and commonly used to prevent unwanted ingress or egress (as of persons to or from a building) or passage (as of solids into a conduit for liquids)

beautifully wrought grates over the lower windows

dislodging a heavy sewer grate

3.

a. : a frame, bed, or basket of iron bars for holding fuel while it is burning

b. : fireplace

c. : an open latticed or barred frame for cooking over a fire

4. : a screen or sieve for use with stamp mortars for grading ore

II. transitive verb

( -ed/-ing/-s )

1. obsolete : imprison

2. : to furnish with a grate

grate a furnace

: protect with a grating or bars

grate an opening

III. verb

( -ed/-ing/-s )

Etymology: Middle English graten, from Middle French grater to scratch, scrape, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German krazzōn to scratch — more at scratch

transitive verb

1. archaic : to scrape or rub roughly or harshly : abrade — sometimes used with down or away

2. : to reduce to small particles by rubbing with something rough or indented

grate a nutmeg

3.

a. : fret , irritate , offend

news, my good lord, from Rome … grates me — Shakespeare

b. obsolete : to get by importunity or by extortion

4.

a. : to gnash or grind (one's teeth) so as to produce a harsh discordant sound

b. : to cause to make such a sound

grated the car into gear

c. : to utter (as speech) in a harsh voice

grating an angry reply as he turned aside

intransitive verb

1. : to rub roughly against something so as to produce harsh discordant sound

the gears grated into place

footsteps grating on the gravel

: crepitate , rasp , grind

2.

a. obsolete : to make unreasonable or burdensome demands : give offense by oppressive demands or importunity — usually used with upon

b. obsolete : to dwell irritatingly — used with upon

c. : to produce an irritating effect : perturb , distress , annoy — used with on or upon

such language grates upon me

his harsh voice grated on our ears

IV. noun

( -s )

Etymology: Middle English, from graten, v.

obsolete : a device for grating something : grater

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.