grate

1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈgrāt 

1

: grating sense 2

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

: fireplace

3

obsolete : cage, prison

grate

2 of 4

verb (1)

grated; grating

transitive verb

: to furnish with a grate

The lower windows were grated.

grate

3 of 4

verb (2)

grated; grating

transitive verb

1

: to reduce to small particles by rubbing on something rough

grate cheese

2

: fret, irritate

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

intransitive verb

1

: to rub or rasp noisily

metal grating against metal

2

: to cause irritation : jar

a voice that grates on the nerves

grater noun

gratingly

ˈgrā-tiŋ-lē 

adverb

grater

4 of 4

noun (2)

grat·​er

ˈgrātə(r), 

-ātə-

plural -s

: one that grates

especially : a machine or device used for reducing material (as a nutmeg or a turnip) to small bits by rubbing or abrading

Synonyms of grate

Verb (1)

• annoy
• bother
• irritate
• bug
• persecute

Examples of grate in a Sentence

Verb (1)

unintentionally or not, you say rude things that grate people

the sled grated along the bare pavement

he grated the pieces of metal together

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Remove the grates and burner caps if needed for soaking and cleaning. —Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 12 June 2026

Removable parts such as the grates can be rinsed with warm water. —Maria Sabella, The Spruce, 4 June 2026

Verb

Your social world may grate on you today! —Usa Today, USA Today, 18 June 2026

Coarsely grate the cucumber and transfer it to the sieve. —Georgina Hayden, Bon Appetit Magazine, 15 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1) and Verb (1)

Middle English, from Medieval Latin crata, grata hurdle, alteration of Latin cratis — more at hurdle

Verb (2)

Middle English, from Anglo-French grater to scratch, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German krazzōn to scratch

Noun (2)

Middle English gratere, from graten to grate + -ere -er

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (1)

1547, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for grate

• ate
• bait
• bate
• cate
• crate
• date
• eight
• fait
• fate
• fete
• frate
• freight

Kids Definition

grate

1 of 2 noun

ˈgrāt 

1

: grating sense 1

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