noun

grate

GRAYT

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."

verb

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

"Grate the cheese before adding it to the sauce."

"He grated fresh ginger into the marinade."

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

"The chalk grated against the blackboard."

"His constant complaining really grates on me."

How to Use Grate

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo shred food on a grater, to make a harsh scraping noise, or (as a noun) the metal bars in a fireplace.

Common mistake

Don't confuse with "great" (meaning excellent) — they sound identical but are unrelated.

Easily confused with

great →

Common pairings

grate cheese grate on someone's nerves fireplace grate

more grate comparative, grated past tense, grated past tense, grates plural, grates singular, grates singular, most grate superlative

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Can you complete this real example?

She stacked logs on the _____ before lighting the fire.

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

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