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⇱ grater - WordReference.com Dictionary of English

grater

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UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈgreɪtər/US:USA pronunciation: respellingUSA pronunciation: respelling(grā′tər)


WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
grat•er  (grā′tər),USA pronunciation n. 
  1. a person or thing that grates.
  2. Foodany of various kitchen devices for grating food:a cheese grater.
  • late Middle English. See grate2, -er1 1400–50

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
grater /ˈɡreɪtə/ n
  1. a kitchen utensil with sharp-edged perforations for grating carrots, cheese, etc
  2. a person or thing that grates
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
grate1 /greɪt/USA pronunciation   n. [countable]
  1. Buildinga frame of metal bars for holding fuel when burning, as in a fireplace, furnace, or stove.
  2. Buildinga framework of parallel or crossed bars used as a guard, as over a window;
    grating.

grate2 /greɪt/USA pronunciation   v., grat•ed, grat•ing. 
  1. to have an irritating effect:[~ + on]His constant chatter grates on my nerves.
  2. to (cause to) make a sound of rough scraping or rubbing that is annoying or noisy;
    rasp: [no object]The car fender grated against the fence.[~ + object]He grated the car fender against the fence.
  3. to make into small particles by rubbing against a rough surface:[~ + object]to grate a carrot.
grat•er, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
grate1  (grāt),USA pronunciation n., v., grat•ed, grat•ing. 
n. 
  1. Buildinga frame of metal bars for holding fuel when burning, as in a fireplace, furnace, or stove.
  2. Buildinga framework of parallel or crossed bars, used as a partition, guard, cover, or the like;
    grating.
  3. Buildinga fireplace.

v.t. 
  1. Buildingto furnish with a grate or grates.
  • Medieval Latin grāta a grating, variant of crāta, derivative of Latin crāt- (stem of crātis) wickerwork, hurdle; compare crate
  • Middle English 1350–1400
grate′less, adj. 
grate′like′, adj. 

grate2  (grāt),USA pronunciation v., grat•ed, grat•ing. 
v.i. 
  1. to have an irritating or unpleasant effect:His constant chatter grates on my nerves.
  2. to make a sound of, or as if of, rough scraping;
    rasp.
  3. to sound harshly;
    jar:to grate on the ear.
  4. to scrape or rub with rough or noisy friction, as one thing on or against another.

v.t. 
  1. to reduce to small particles by rubbing against a rough surface or a surface with many sharp-edged openings:to grate a carrot.
  2. to rub together with a harsh, jarring sound:to grate one's teeth.
  3. to irritate or annoy.
  4. [Archaic.]to wear down or away by rough friction.
  • Gmc; compare German kratzen to scratch
  • Old French grater
  • late Middle English graten 1375–1425
    7. vex, gall, nettle, irk, rile, bug.
'grater' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
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