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grate1

Pronunciation: /greɪt/
Translate grate | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of grate

verb

  • 1 [with object] reduce (food) to small shreds by rubbing it on a grater: (as adjective grated)grated cheese
  • 2 [no object] make an unpleasant rasping sound:the hinges of the door grated
  • [with direct speech] say something in a harsh tone:‘How dare you!’ he grated
  • 3 [no object] have an irritating effect:the buzzing sound grated on her nerves

Origin:

late Middle English: from Old French grater, of Germanic origin; related to German kratzen 'to scratch'

Do not confuse grate with great. Grate means 'shred food' (grate the cheese into a bowl) or 'a metal fireplace frame', whereas great means 'very big, important, etc.' (a great achievement for British science).

grate in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of grate in the US English dictionary

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