Main Entry: grid

Pronunciation: \ˈgrid\

Function: noun

Etymology: back-formation from gridiron

Date: 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 grid> c : gridiron 3; 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