grate

plural grates

1. A horizontal metal grill through which liquid, ash, or small objects can fall, while larger objects cannot.

   The grate stopped the sheep from escaping from their field.

   1 more example

   a secret grate of iron bars

   1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Sixt”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iv]

2. A frame or bed, or kind of basket, of iron bars, for holding fuel while burning.

   With the exception of two handsome ornaments in front, it has the same appearance as any other parlor grate, yet by a simple scientific evaporating apparatus, from thirty to sixty gallons of water, if required, can be evaporated during the day.

   1847, editorial staff, “Evaporation Grate”, in Scientific American, series 1, Volume 3, Issue 9, page 68

3. historicalA grapper, a metal ring on a lance behind the grip.

   Lances (only shown at Stoke D'Abernon) were commonly made of ash, about 13 feet long. A ring of metal (grate or grapper) was fastened to the shaft and during a fight[…]

   1969, Herbert Walter Macklin, Monumental Brasses

   1 more example

   […] and a heavy metal ring, called the grate or graper, fastened to the shaft below the grip. The grate rested against the knight's breastplate and relieved the hand and arm of the full shock of contact. The metallic head (or socket) of the war lance was usually leaf shaped, while that of the tilting lance, at least from[…]

   1980, The Encyclopedia Americana, volume 16, page 683

present singular third person grates · participle present grating · participle past grated · past grated

1. transitiveTo furnish with grates; to protect with a grating or crossbars.

   to grate a window

present singular third person grates · participle present grating · participle past grated · past grated

1. transitivecookingTo shred (things, usually foodstuffs), by rubbing across a grater.

   I need to grate the cheese before the potato is cooked.

2. intransitiveTo make an unpleasant rasping sound, often as the result of rubbing against something.

   The chalk grated against the board.

   3 more examples

   1856, Gustave Flaubert, Madame Bovary, Part 3 Chapter X, translated by Eleanor Marx-Aveling The gate suddenly grated. It was Lestiboudois; he came to fetch his spade, that he had forgotten. He recognised Justin climbing over the wall, and at last knew who was the culprit who stole his potatoes.

   The turmoil went on—no rest, no peace. […] It was nearly eleven o'clock now, and he strolled out again. In the little fair created by the costers' barrows the evening only seemed beginning; and the naphtha flares made one's eyes ache, the men's voices grated harshly, and the girls' faces saddened one.

   1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter VII, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC

   Listening to his teeth grate all day long drives me mad.

   Synonyms: scrape

3. broadlyintransitiveTo get on one's nerves; to irritate, annoy.

   She’s nice enough, but she can begin to grate if there is no-one else to talk to.

4. broadlytransitiveTo annoy.

   2015', Art Levy in Florida Trend, Roland Martin is a Florida 'Icon one of the issues that's kind of grating me a little bit is weed control.

   1 more example

   News, my good lord Rome […] grates me.

   c. 1606–1607 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Anthonie and Cleopatra”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i]

comparative more grate · superlative most grate

1. obsoleteServing to gratify; agreeable.

   Coho or Coffee[…]however ingrate or insapory it seems at first, it becomes grate and delicious enough by custom.

   1677, Sir Thomas Herbert, Some Yeares Travels into Africa and Asia the Great

comparative more grate · superlative most grate

1. obsoleteObsolete spelling of great.

   c. 1815, Mary Woody, A true account of Nayomy Wise He promisd her a grate reward