Meaning & use
cattle grids
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“cattle grids” is a form of “cattle grid”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meaning
nounpluralBritish
Sets of metal bars laid across a road so vehicles can cross but farm animals will not walk over them.
Grammar: Plural of cattle grid: several cattle grids along the road. Singular uses an or the.
Patterns
- cross cattle grids
- cattle grids on a road
The lane is rough, with two cattle grids before the farm gate.
Cyclists should take care crossing wet cattle grids.
Cattle grids let drivers pass without having to open and close gates.
Word forms
| singular | cattle grid |
|---|
Common combinations
- cross cattle grids
- The tractor slowly crossed the cattle grids.
- rattle over cattle grids
- The car rattled over the cattle grids.
- cattle grids and gates
- Cattle grids and gates mark the edge of the moor.
- install cattle grids
- The council installed cattle grids on the common.
- cattle grids on the road
- There are cattle grids on the road to the village.
Synonyms and how they differ
- cattle guards
- Cattle guards is the American term for the same road feature, so it is the choice for US readers.
- stock grids
- Stock grids is a farming variant and also covers sheep, not only cattle.
- road barriers
- Road barriers is a vague general phrase and may mean a stop gate or fence, which cattle grids are not.
Word family
- cattle noun
- cows and bulls kept as farm animals
- grid noun
- a pattern of crossing bars or lines
- cattle grid noun
- the singular form
- cattle guard noun
- the American term
Commonly confused: cattle grids or cattle gate?
cattle grids vs cattle gate
A cattle gate is a swinging gate you must open and close. A cattle grid is fixed in the road and needs no opening.
Practice
What are cattle grids designed to do?
Choose one answer.
The gaps between the bars are too awkward for hooves, so animals stay in, while vehicles roll over. They do not drain water, smooth the road or conduct power.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “cattle grids”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.