grate
1 of 2verb/greɪt/
Forms:grates,grating,grated,grated
1
to cut food into small pieces or shreds using a tool with sharp holes
C1transitive- Grate the cheese for the pizza using a cheese grater.
- She grated carrots to add to the salad for extra crunch.
- When baking, grate nutmeg to sprinkle over the dough.
- Grate some lemon zest to add a refreshing touch to the dish.
- He carefully grated chocolate to sprinkle on top of the dessert.
2
to produce a harsh, irritating sound by rubbing or scraping
- The door hinges grated as he opened it slowly.
- The car’s brakes grated when it came to a sudden stop.
- The metal chair grated on the floor as she moved it.
- The gears of the old machine grated, signaling it needed repair.
- The guitar string grated as he played the wrong chord.
Synonyms:
3
to scratch or rub repeatedly against a surface, often causing irritation or annoyance
- The rough fabric is grating against his skin, causing irritation.
- The rough fabric grated against her skin, making her uncomfortable.
- The sandpaper grated against the wood, leaving a smooth finish.
- The friction from the shoes grating against the floor made a terrible sound.
- The sound of the metal grating against the pavement was unbearable.
Synonyms:
4
to cause discomfort, annoyance, or irritation in someone
- His constant jokes began to grate on her patience.
- The sound of the alarm clock grates on me every morning.
- The constant noise from the construction site grates on the neighbors.
- Her remarks about my work ethic started to grate on me.
- The repetitive beeping from the machine grated on everyone's nerves.
5
to provide or equip something with a a frame of iron bars, typically for protection
transitive- They grated the fireplace to keep the logs from rolling out.
- The window was grated to prevent burglaries in the area.
- They grated the ventilation system to improve airflow.
- The old oven was grated with a new steel covering for durability.
- The well was grated to keep debris from falling inside.