grate

Pronunciation

• enPR: grāt, IPA ^(key): /ɡreɪt/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Homophone: great

Verb

Plain form grate

Third-person singular grates

Past tense grated

Past participle grated

Present participle grating

Grate-cheese

1. (transitive) When you grate something, you turn it into little pieces by rubbing it against something sharp or rough.

   He grated an entire block of cheese for the nachos.

2. (transitive) When you grate something, you rub it against something in a way that makes a loud, annoying noise.

   During the math test, the student grated his pencil against the side of his desk so loudly that the teacher threatened to throw the pencil out the window.

3. (transitive) When a person grates, they say something in a loud, often annoying voice.

   "Silence during tests!" the teacher grated in a voice that was almost as loud as the pencil.

4. (intransitive) When someone or someone grates on you, it makes you annoyed. It is hard to deal with or listen to.

   She means well, but she has a loud, high, perky voice that just grates on me.

   The constant sound of construction outside my house grated on my nerves until I had to leave.

Noun

Singular grate

Plural grates

1. (countable) A grate is a metal cover with bars on it. It may cover things like fireplaces or sewers.

   The construction workers covered the hole in the road with a grate so nobody would fall down the hole.