grid

noun

ˈgrid 

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 sense 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

Examples of grid in a Sentence

The students plotted points on a grid.

The city streets form a grid.

Recent Examples on the Web

The home stands apart in other ways, operating entirely off the grid with solar panels concealed behind parapets and water drawn from snowmelt. —Nick Mafi, Architectural Digest, 29 Apr. 2026

Tolbert, an engineer, questioned Mehan’s promise to not vote for a rate increase even if the power grid’s reliability is at risk. —Kristi Swartz, AJC.com, 29 Apr. 2026

Each episode will see Crews explore different points of interest for the F1 calendar, and take viewers behind-the-scenes at the team, which is in its first year on the grid. —Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 29 Apr. 2026

By creating smaller, transportable units, the researchers aim to provide power to locations that are difficult to reach with traditional electrical grids. —Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 29 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

back-formation from gridiron

First Known Use

1839, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing grid

• cattle grid
• micro-grid
• off-grid
• off-the-grid

Rhymes for grid

• bid
• did
• hid
• id
• lid
• mid
• quid
• rid
• skid
• slid
• squid
• amid

Kids Definition

grid

noun

ˈgrid 

1

: grating sense 1

2

: a metal plate used as a conductor in a storage battery

3

: an element of an electron tube consisting of a network of fine wire

4

: a network of horizontal and perpendicular lines (as for locating points on a map using coordinates or for counting a sample of particles or organisms on a microscope slide)

5

: a network of conductors for distribution of electrical power

also : a network of radio or television stations