1
2
a
: a barred frame for cooking over a fire
b
: a frame or bed of iron bars to hold a stove or furnace fire
c
grated; grating
: to furnish with a grate
the lower windows were grated
grated; grating
1
: to reduce to small particles by rubbing on something rough
grate cheese
3
a
: to gnash or grind noisily
b
: to cause to make a rasping sound
c
: to utter in a harsh voice
4
archaic
: abrade
1
: to rub or rasp noisily
metal grating against metal
2
: to cause irritation : jar
a voice that grates on the nerves
grater
noun
Synonyms
Examples of grate in a Sentence
Verb (1)
unintentionally or not, you say rude things that grate people
the sled grated along the bare pavement
he grated the pieces of metal together
Recent Examples on the Web
Simone Jasper, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2025
Its crew had backed the 44-ton vehicle into undergrowth, blocking access to its vulnerable exhaust grate.
—C.j. Chivers Robert Fass Krish Seenivasan Steven Szczesniak, New York Times, 31 Dec. 2024
Luke Fortney, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2025
Parmesan cheese, grated (about 1/2 cup) 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
2 tsp.
—Craig Ruff, Southern Living, 9 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for grate 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
Deputies worked together to lift the metal grate off a storm drain before freeing the dog, who had become trapped in a pipe.
—Simone Jasper, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2025
Its crew had backed the 44-ton vehicle into undergrowth, blocking access to its vulnerable exhaust grate.
—C.j. Chivers Robert Fass Krish Seenivasan Steven Szczesniak, New York Times, 31 Dec. 2024
Verb
Combine with more whole beans and finish with olive oil, lemon zest and grated Parmesan.
—Luke Fortney, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2025
Parmesan cheese, grated (about 1/2 cup) 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
2 tsp.
—Craig Ruff, Southern Living, 9 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for grate
Dictionary Entries Near grate
Cite this Entry
“Grate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grate. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
grate
1 of 2 noun1
2
: a frame of iron bars for holding burning fuel (as in a fireplace)
grate
2 of 2 verb
grated; grating
1
: to make into small particles by rubbing against something rough
grate cheese
2
: to grind or rub against something with a scratching noise
3
: to have a harsh or irritating effect
grater
noun
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share