grout

noun \ ˈgrau̇t \

|Updated on: 26 Jul 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

The same goes for the mosaic’s grout and mortar, according to the report.

— sven berg, The Seattle Times, "Heat, water and trucks are destroying a Boise mosaic," 9 July 2018
Hollywood police say there were possible blood stains on a door and wall and in grout in the tile floor.

— linda trischitta, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Killer shot father-in-law in back because he couldn't look in his eyes, cops say," 14 June 2018
Throw on a fresh coat of paint and refresh the tile grout.

— victoria kim, latimes.com, "Singapore preps for Trump-Kim summit with fresh paint and arrests," 9 June 2018
If your tile needs further whitening, spray the tile and grout with Rejuvenate's Tile and Grout Everyday Cleaner.

— jessica leigh mattern, Woman's Day, "The Best Way to Clean Grout," 29 Mar. 2017
He was being tossed inside a dark blender full of grout.

— edwidge danticat, The New Yorker, "Without Inspection," 7 May 2018
In those bathrooms, God wasn’t faceless omnipotence but proximate particulars, grout and soap — the things that had always been there, right in front of me.

— leslie jamison, Time, "When I Drank, I Knelt on the Bathroom Floor to Throw Up. When I Got Sober, I Did it to Pray," 4 Apr. 2018
Stark said workers will drill holes in the girders, fill them with cement grout to push out excess water and install waterproof coverings to seal them.

— lori aratani, Washington Post, "Silver Line officials rush to replace defective panels at five Phase 2 stations," 25 Apr. 2018
Any tile and grout will be easier to clean and will last a very long time if it’s properly installed, sealed and maintained.

— jennifer adams, Philly.com, "Ask Jennifer Adams: Inexpensive tile alternatives for bathroom updates," 25 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

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

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