grout

1 of 2

noun

1
a
: thin mortar used for filling spaces (such as the joints in masonry)
also : any of various other materials (such as a mixture of cement and water or chemicals that solidify) used for a similar purpose
b
2
: lees

grout

2 of 2

verb

grouted; grouting; grouts

transitive verb

1
: to fill up or finish with grout
2
: to fix in place by means of grout
grout a bolt into a wall
grouter noun

Examples of grout in a Sentence

Verb I need to grout the bathroom tiles.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
To clean mold from bathroom tile grout, use the same borax or vinegar solution as before. Megan Boettcher, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Sep. 2023 The grout would probably test out in excess of 12,000 pounds per square inch. Tim Carter, Chicago Tribune, 21 July 2023 Use grout in a color similar to the tile or in a darker shade to create contrast. Halee Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Sep. 2023 The floor has marble-look hexagonal tile, and the shower surround has subway tile installed diagonally with gray grout. Benjamin C Tankersley, Washington Post, 30 Aug. 2023 To use the device, simply press the on button and get to work, scrubbing the corners of bathtubs and grout to make everything squeaky clean. Amy Schulman, Peoplemag, 17 Aug. 2023 Steam cleaning is another great to clean bathroom grout without chemicals. Alyssa Longobucco, House Beautiful, 16 Aug. 2023 For a gas fireplace without heat management, Pinto suggested that the best surface for a fireplace would be small-scale tiles, like a mosaic because the multiple grout lines can expand and contract without cracking, unlike oversized tiles or even plaster. Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Aug. 2023 These narrow brushes are great for cleaning hard-to-reach spots, such as the grout lines between tiles and around the edges of tubs and faucets. Lauren Krueger, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Aug. 2023
Verb
For good measure, clean your tile and grout one last time using a mild dish soap or tile cleaner. Alyssa Longobucco, House Beautiful, 16 Aug. 2023 This backsplash solution is a quick weekend update and easier to install around existing cabinets and appliances than grouting and setting real tiles. Kristina McGuirk, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Aug. 2023 Founded in 1951 for those who grout tile and hang cabinets, the periodical was no match for Prince Harry’s memoir or a Stephen King novel. Jeffrey Fleishman, Los Angeles Times, 9 Aug. 2023 In grit crust, the stones provide the structure, but the microbes colonize them in a coherent sheet — like a thin layer of resin grouting together a rock garden. Zack Savitsky, Quanta Magazine, 12 July 2023 For example, grout cleaners with acid or ammonia could damage natural stone. Brittany Vanderbill, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Mar. 2023 Spray | Volume: 24 ounces | Recommended Surfaces: Tile floors and grout The 6 Best Shower Filters to Save Your Skin and Hair from Hard Water Best Plant-Based Grove Co. Brittany Vanderbill, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Mar. 2023 This upright vacuum did an excellent job cleaning hard floors, grouted tile, and carpet. Theresa Holland, Peoplemag, 8 Mar. 2023 Why do grout lines turn black? Terry Baddoo, USA TODAY, 30 Nov. 2022 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'grout.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English grut, grout "crushed grain for malt, infused malt, thick, dark ale, mud, slime," going back to Old English grūt "coarse meal, dregs, spent malt after brewing," going back to Germanic *grūta- (whence also Middle Dutch grute, gruut "herb mixture used in beer brewing," Middle High German grūz "a grain, grain of sand"), lengthened zero grade noun derivative from *greutan- "to grind, crush" — more at grit entry 1

Note: Sense 1, which first appears in the seventeenth century, is of uncertain relation to the earlier senses and perhaps of independent origin. Oxford English Dictionary, first edition, suggests a connection to Middle French (Limousin) grouter "to rough-cast," Limousin Occitan greutā, but this isolated word, itself of unknown origin, is of unlikely relevance.

Verb

derivative of grout entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1638, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1838, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of grout was in 1638

Dictionary Entries Near grout

Cite this Entry

“Grout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grout. Accessed 29 Sep. 2023.

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