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grate¹

(grāt)

v. grat·ed, grat·ing, grates

v.tr.

1. To reduce to fragments, shreds, or powder by rubbing against an abrasive surface.

2. To cause to make a harsh grinding or rasping sound through friction: grated her teeth in anger.

3. To irritate or annoy persistently: It always grates me to get put on hold.

4. Archaic To rub or wear away.

v.intr.

1. To make a harsh rasping sound: an old gate grating in the wind.

2. To cause irritation or annoyance: a noise that grates on one's nerves.

A harsh rasping sound made by scraping or rubbing: the grate of a key in a lock.

[Middle English graten, from Old French grater, to scrape, of Germanic origin.]

grate²

(grāt)

1. A framework of parallel or latticed bars for blocking an opening.

2. A framework of metal bars used to hold fuel or food in a stove, furnace, or fireplace.

3. A fireplace.

4. A perforated iron plate or screen for sieving and grading crushed ore.

tr.v. grat·ed, grat·ing, grates

To equip with a grate.

[Middle English, from Medieval Latin grāta, alteration of Latin crātis, wickerwork.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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