grid

noun

1
2
a(1)
: a perforated or ridged metal plate used as a conductor in a storage battery
(2)
: an electrode consisting of a mesh or a spiral of fine wire in an electron tube
(3)
: a network of conductors for distribution of electric power
also : a network of radio or television stations
b
: a network of uniformly spaced horizontal and perpendicular lines (as for locating points on a map)
also : something resembling such a network
a road grid
c
3
: the starting positions of cars on a racecourse
4
: a device in a photocomposer on which are located the characters to be exposed as the text is composed

Examples of grid in a Sentence

The students plotted points on a grid. The city streets form a grid.
Recent Examples on the Web Inside the tree, each little square on each grid is adorned with a number. Jaron Lanier, The New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2024 With glyph-like symbols arranged in a grid—possibly influenced by Krasner’s Hebrew studies during her childhood in Brooklyn—the Little Image paintings pulsate with jagged intensity. Grace Edquist, Vogue, 1 Mar. 2024 The answer: Leverage generative AI to streamline how energy projects connect to the power grid to transition our power resources faster. Hudson Hollister, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 Power grids usually tap fossil fuel power plants whenever hydropower runs low. Justine Calma, The Verge, 1 Mar. 2024 The final defendant tied to the firebombing of a Planned Parenthood clinic in Costa Mesa pleaded guilty Thursday for his role in that crime and for another plot to damage Orange County’s power grid. Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 29 Feb. 2024 Reyes said his team had heard of Jordan’s purported early struggles with his swing, and, in the video, set up a column grid to map the building’s structure onto Tiger Woods’ club trajectory. Jack Bantock, CNN, 29 Feb. 2024 And that grid has the highest number of auto thefts for the second year running — 65 were stolen there in 2022. Kunle Falayi, The Arizona Republic, 28 Feb. 2024 Being able to pursue spare zero-carbon megawatts can help reduce stress on grids, such as during a heat wave or frigid winter storm. Naureen S. Malik, Fortune, 25 Feb. 2024

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

Word History

Etymology

back-formation from gridiron

First Known Use

1839, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of grid was in 1839

Dictionary Entries Near grid

Cite this Entry

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

Kids Definition

grid

noun
1
2
: a metal plate used as a conductor in a storage battery
3
: an element of an electron tube consisting of a network of fine wire
4
: a network of horizontal and perpendicular lines (as for locating points on a map using coordinates or for counting a sample of particles or organisms on a microscope slide)
5
: a network of conductors for distribution of electrical power
also : a network of radio or television stations

More from Merriam-Webster on grid

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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