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grate

6 synonyms and 1 antonym for grate, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — A metal frame of bars used to hold fuel in a fireplace, or a metal grid that lets small things pass through while blocking larger ones.

Synonyms

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

A metal frame of bars used to hold fuel in a fireplace, or a metal grid that lets small things pass through while blocking larger ones.

“She stacked logs on the grate before lighting the fire.”

2. verb

To shred food into small pieces by rubbing it across a grater.

“Grate the cheese before adding it to the sauce.”

3. verb

To make a harsh, scraping sound; or, figuratively, to irritate someone.

“The chalk grated against the blackboard.”

Opposites

How to use grate

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

grate cheese grate on someone's nerves fireplace grate

Etymology

From Medieval Latin crata / Latin cratis, meaning a wickerwork frame or hurdle.

Full origin of grate →

Frequently asked questions

What does “grate” mean?
The word “grate” means a metal frame of bars used to hold fuel in a fireplace, or a metal grid that lets small things pass through while blocking larger ones. In plain terms, to shred food on a grater, to make a harsh scraping noise, or (as a noun) the metal bars in a fireplace.
How do you pronounce “grate”?
“Grate” is pronounced GRAYT (/ˈɡɹeɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “grate” in a sentence?
Here is “grate” used in a sentence: “She stacked logs on the grate before lighting the fire.”
What is another word for “grate”?
Words with a similar meaning to “grate” include grill.
What part of speech is “grate”?
Depending on how it is used, “grate” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “grate” come from?
The word “grate” comes from Medieval Latin. From Medieval Latin crata / Latin cratis, meaning a wickerwork frame or hurdle.
How many meanings does “grate” have?
“Grate” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a metal frame of bars used to hold fuel in a fireplace, or a metal grid that lets small things pass through while blocking larger ones.

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Synonyms and antonyms from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.