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.
Etymology
From Medieval Latin crata / Latin cratis, meaning a wickerwork frame or hurdle.
Full origin of grate →