[grid] n [back-formation fr. gridiron] (1839) 1: grating
2. a (1): a perforated or ridged metal plate used as a conductor in a storage battery (2): an electrode consisting of a mesh or a spiral of fine wire in an electron tube (3): a network of conductors for distribution of electric power; also: a network of radio or television stations b: a network of uniformly spaced horizontal and perpendicular lines (as for locating points on a map); also: something resembling such a network "a road ~" c: gridiron 2; broadly: football
3: the starting positions of cars on a racecourse
4: a device in a photocomposer on which are located the characters to be exposed as the text is composed