Entry Word: grate

Function: verb

Meaning: 1 to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts <you unintentionally say rude things that grate people> — see irritate 1
2 to pass roughly and noisily over or against a surface <the sled grated along the bare ground> — see scrape 1
3 to press or strike against or together so as to make a scraping sound <he grated the pieces of metal together> — see grind 2