grate
/ˈɡɹeɪt/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: 3.17 in modern English
6
Scrabble Score
5
Letters
1
Syllables
5
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A horizontal metal grill through which liquid, ash, or small objects can fall, while larger objects cannot.
Example Sentences
- "The grate stopped the sheep from escaping from their field."
- "a secret grate of iron bars"
- "With the exception of two handsome ornaments in front, it has the same appearance as any other parlor grate, yet by a simple scientific evaporating apparatus, from thirty to sixty gallons of water, if required, can be evaporated during the day."
- "Lances (only shown at Stoke D'Abernon) were commonly made of ash, about 13 feet long. A ring of metal (grate or grapper) was fastened to the shaft and during a fight[…]"
- "[…] and a heavy metal ring, called the grate or graper, fastened to the shaft below the grip. The grate rested against the knight's breastplate and relieved the hand and arm of the full shock of contact. The metallic head (or socket) of the war lance was usually leaf shaped, while that of the tilting lance, at least from[…]"
- "to grate a window"
Etymology
From Middle English grate, from a Medieval Latin crāta, from a Latin word for a hurdle; or Italian grata, from Latin cratis.
Origin
Word Breakdown
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈɡɹeɪt/
- British English: /ˈɡɹeɪt/
Usage
Inflected Forms
grates (plural)
grates (present, singular)
grating (participle, present)
grated (participle, past)
grated (past)
more grate (comparative)
most grate (superlative)