grate

[ɡreɪt]

grate Definition

  • 1to reduce something to small shreds by rubbing it against a rough or sharp surface
  • 2to make an unpleasant sound by rubbing against a hard surface
  • 3a frame of metal bars used as a barrier

Using grate: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "grate" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

  • Example

    She grated the cheese for the pizza.

  • Example

    The car's brakes were starting to grate.

  • Example

    The grate on the window prevented the thief from entering the house.

grate Synonyms and Antonyms

Antonyms for grate

Phrases with grate

  • grate on someone's nerves

    to annoy or irritate someone

    Example

    His constant humming was starting to grate on my nerves.

  • to be in harsh contrast with something else

    Example

    The bright yellow walls grated with the dark blue carpet.

  • to shred cheese using a grater

    Example

    Can you please grate some cheese for the salad?

Origins of grate

from Old French 'grate', meaning 'a grating'

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Summary: grate in Brief

The term 'grate' [ɡreɪt] can be used as a verb or a noun. As a verb, it means to shred something into small pieces by rubbing it against a rough surface or to make an unpleasant sound by rubbing against a hard surface. As a noun, it refers to a frame of metal bars used as a barrier. The phrase 'grate on someone's nerves' means to annoy or irritate someone, while 'grate with' means to be in harsh contrast with something else. An example of its usage is 'She grated the cheese for the pizza.'

How do native speakers use this expression?