grating

1 of 2

noun

grat·​ing ˈgrā-tiŋ How to pronounce grating (audio)
1
: a wooden or metal lattice used to close or floor an opening
2
: a partition, covering, or frame of parallel bars or crossbars
3
: a system of close equidistant and parallel lines or bars ruled on a polished surface to produce spectra by diffraction

grating

2 of 2

adjective

: causing irritation or annoyance
a grating habit
It's not just that the interruptions themselves are grating to watch: what's worse is the hostilities they create.Heather Schwedel
often : having a harsh or unpleasant sound
a grating voice/accent
If you just imagined that last quote spoken in Gottfried's grating, obnoxious yelling, that's now how you would hear him on the phone. Blake Hannon
The truck braked noisily with a grating shriek of steel. Mildred D. Taylor
gratingly adverb
a gratingly harsh sound
Something in Orcutt's proprietary manner had irritated her at that first meeting, something she found gratingly egotistical in his expansive courtesy … Philip Roth

Examples of grating in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The Mackinac Bridge Authority announced vintage steel grating from the bridge's deck for sale last month. Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 23 Feb. 2024 Blanch the gratings for 3 to 4 minutes or until translucent. Ella Quittner, New York Times, 29 Nov. 2023 Elevate your kitchen prowess with this Cheese Grater/Chopper, the versatile tool that combines grating and chopping capabilities for culinary excellence. Priscilla Mak, Rolling Stone, 7 Dec. 2023 The windows of the building on the first few floors are fortified with wide deep lintels and thick mesh iron grating. Sasha Frere-Jones, Harper's Magazine, 11 Oct. 2023 Quiet luxury has to be the most overused—and grating—phrase of the year. Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 28 June 2023 Remove from the heat and serve, with a grating of black pepper and sprinkle of vegan parmesan. Jim Webster, Washington Post, 2 Apr. 2023 By precisely aligning these gratings, the observatory would achieve the equivalent resolution of a 20-meter optical space telescope. Bruce Dorminey, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2023 Sailors who got snatched up were transported in the holds of small ships known as tenders, which resembled floating jails, with gratings bolted over the hatchways and marines standing guard with muskets and bayonets. David Grann, The New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2023
Adjective
Find it on Amazon Save Dishes With This Hand Grater This Hand Grater has three grating surfaces, a non-slip base, measurements, and a vegetable peeler. Kathy Barr, Rolling Stone, 26 Sep. 2023 Runner's knee often causes a tender or grating sensation. Yuliya Klochan, Health, 12 Aug. 2023 Among his more grating qualities is an inability to admit his mistakes: the steely aesthete is also a chameleon, adjusting his positions to the latest political circumstances. Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 26 June 2023 But often the most grating road-blocker at work is the one who is on your team — and presumably on your side. Ashley Fetters Maloy, Washington Post, 20 May 2022 This is a perpetually grating question that’s followed the genre around as it’s skyrocketed to the very center of the mainstream over the last few years and become one of the most omnipresent sounds on the planet. Julyssa Lopez, Rolling Stone, 9 May 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'grating.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1622, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1563, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of grating was in 1563

Dictionary Entries Near grating

Cite this Entry

“Grating.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grating. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

grating

noun
grat·​ing
ˈgrāt-iŋ
1
: a frame of parallel bars or crossbars
2
: a transparent surface that is ruled with a series of very closely spaced parallel lines or bars and is used to produce spectra by the diffraction of light

Medical Definition

grating

noun
grat·​ing ˈgrāt-iŋ How to pronounce grating (audio)
: a system of close equidistant and parallel lines or bars ruled on a polished surface to produce spectra by diffraction

called also diffraction grating

More from Merriam-Webster on grating

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