grate

Meanings

1. 1verbtransitive

   To shred food into small pieces by rubbing it against a rough, perforated surface.

   Grammar: Takes an object: grate the cheese.

   Patterns

   • grate something
   • grate something into something
   • grate something over something

   Grate the cheese finely and sprinkle it over the pasta.

   She grated a carrot into the salad.

   He grated some nutmeg over the eggnog.

2. 2verbintransitive

   To make a harsh, unpleasant sound by rubbing against something.

   Grammar: No object; often followed by 'on' or 'against': The chair grated on the floor.

   Patterns

   • grate on something
   • grate against something

   The metal door grated on its hinges.

   The chalk grated against the blackboard.

3. 3verbintransitivefigurative

   To irritate or annoy someone, especially through repetition.

   Grammar: No object; used with 'on': His voice grates on me.

   Patterns

   • grate on someone

   Her constant complaining really grates on my nerves.

   The way he taps his pen grates on everyone in the office.

4. 4nouncountable

   A metal frame that holds fuel in a fireplace, or a framework of bars covering an opening.

   Grammar: Countable: a grate, two grates.

   Patterns

   • a fireplace grate
   • a metal grate

   He put more coal on the grate.

   The grate over the drain was clogged with leaves.

Word forms

Common combinations

grate cheese

Please grate the cheese for the pizza.

grate on someone's nerves

That noise really grates on my nerves.

grate against

The shovel grated against the concrete.

fireplace grate

The fireplace grate needs cleaning.

Synonyms and how they differ

shred

To tear or cut into strips, not necessarily using a grater.

scrape

To rub against a surface, often causing damage or a harsh sound.

irritate

A more general word for annoying someone; 'grate on' is more specific to repeated annoyance.

Word family

grater noun

A kitchen tool with a rough surface for shredding food.

grating adjective

Harsh and unpleasant, especially of a sound.

Commonly confused: grate or great?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “grate”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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