grout

noun \ ˈgrau̇t \

Updated on: 6 Apr 2018

Definition of grout

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 : plaster

2 : lees

See grout defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of grout from the Web

In many locations, contractors injected a grout material made of concrete to mix with soil adjacent to the interior side of the floodwalls to add strength that would help block flood water from pushing walls over.

— mark schleifstein, NOLA.com, "Corps insists 17th Street Canal levee is safe, even with seepage," 30 Mar. 2018
Composition of both the concrete and grout mixtures will be investigated in the coming days.

— erin hegarty, Naperville Sun, "More testing, investigation work on Naperville's crumbling Moser Tower begins this week," 26 Mar. 2018
Chances are the blood curling into the grout, filling tiny Riverbeds of tile, is his own.

— david roderick, San Francisco Chronicle, "State Lines: California poetry: Indigo Moor’s ‘Never Let You Go’," 21 Mar. 2018
Or simply buy some products to clean the grout in your filthy shower!

— sophia benoit, GQ, "Delete All Your Dating Apps and Be Free," 20 Mar. 2018
JEFF SINER Observer File Photo Weeks later, a consultant found the culprit: High levels of calcium chloride in grout had eaten away at the steel cables that gave the bridge’s concrete beams their strength.

— joe marusak and ames alexander, charlotteobserver, "‘It was a horrible night.’ Fla. bridge collapse revives memories of Charlotte tragedy | Charlotte Observer," 15 Mar. 2018
The procedure—of drilling, injecting grout, blasting, clearing, and advancing—will eventually result in some 20 million tons of rock being removed.

— william steel, Ars Technica, "An inside look at how Sweden is building the world’s second-longest tunnel," 10 Mar. 2018
Six of those 21 miles are anchored in bedrock, reinforced by 30,000 cubic yards of structural concrete and grout.

— al saracevic, San Francisco Chronicle, "Warriors’ Chase Center arena rising from the ground in SF," 20 Jan. 2018
For any remaining grout stains, mix up one part bleach and two parts water in a spray bottle.

— lauren smith, Good Housekeeping, "How to Clean a Showerhead That's Seen Better Days," 26 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'grout.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of grout

Middle English, coarse meal, from Old English grūt; akin to Old English grēot grit

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1638

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

grout

verb

Definition of grout

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

See grout defined for English-language learners

Examples of grout in a Sentence

I need to grout the bathroom tiles.

Recent Examples of grout from the Web

This gray-washed style doesn’t steal the spotlight from the large hexagonal tiles on the wall above the bath tub, grouted in charcoal gray to draw attention to their groovy outline.

— joanna linberg, Sunset, "10 Ideas for Decorating with Tile," 22 Jan. 2018
Over time, the water corrodes the system, rusting and rotting its infrastructure — and yet sealing and grouting these leaks often requires rerouting service on lines, further frustrating riders.

— jonathan mahler, New York Times, "The Case for the Subway," 3 Jan. 2018
The cinder block walls have been haphazardly grouted.

— rebecca collard, New York Times, "They Lost Their Country. Then a Fire Robbed Them of Even More.," 10 Dec. 2017
Stones are individually laid on a substrate of mortar and grouted with the same material.

— josh garskof, ELLE Decor, "The Pretenders," 5 July 2012
Victor Salgado, who makes $10.75 per hour with no benefits doing maintenance at an aerosol company and spent three years before that grouting floors, said he was attracted by the promise of an upgrade in pay and benefits.

— noam scheiber and nick wingfield, New York Times, "Amazon’s Jobs Fair Sends Clear Message: Now Hiring Thousands," 2 Aug. 2017
On Oct. 25 of that year, four construction workers were killed, buried beneath an earth slide when a 100-foot cliff collapsed at the dam while workers drilled a hole for grouting, according to Sentinel archives.

— jessica a. york, The Mercury News, "Oroville Dam failure has Santa Cruz officials allaying fears," 21 Feb. 2017
As of Wednesday, the stones were grouted in place with concrete.

— james ewinger, cleveland.com, "Wrecked and rebuilt I-90 footbridge to open in Collinwood (photos)," 26 May 2017
There has also been a sewer system rehab on Randolph Road, with lining and grouting to improve performance there.

— thomas jewell, cleveland.com, "Federal consent decree to expected to nearly quadruple Cleveland Heights' 2018 sewer bills," 17 May 2017