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