grating

¹

[grey-ting]

noun

1. a fixed frame of bars or the like covering an opening to exclude persons, animals, coarse material, or objects while admitting light, air, or fine material.

2. Physics.,  diffraction grating.

grating

²

[grey-ting]

adjective

1. irritating or unpleasant to one's feelings.

2. (of a sound or noise) harsh, discordant, or rasping.

grating

¹

/ ˈɡreɪtɪŋ /

adjective

1. (of sounds) harsh and rasping

2. annoying; irritating

noun

1. (often plural) something produced by grating

grating

²

/ ˈɡreɪtɪŋ /

noun

1. Also called: grate. a framework of metal bars in the form of a grille set into a wall, pavement, etc, serving as a cover or guard but admitting air and sometimes light

2. short for diffraction grating

Other Word Forms

• gratingly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of grating¹

First recorded in 1605–15; grat(e) ¹ + -ing ¹

Origin of grating²

First recorded in 1555–65; grat(e) ² + -ing ²

Example Sentences

A splash of cream softened everything into a pale, velvety sauce, and a grating of parmesan and lemon zest nudged it toward something bright and indulgent.

From Salon

Locals described the sound as similar to that of a 747 jet, or as grating as having a toothache 24 hours a day, claiming that the noise drowned out the sound of the nearby waterfalls.

From BBC

It’s boorish and grating, assuming its audience will lap up whatever tasteless parody it puts out for them just because it aligns with popular films that share its basic themes.

From Salon

The one I find really grating is the traffic noise from Dhaka, Bangladesh, which has the title of the noisiest city in the world.

From BBC

Knowing everything we do about Monroe — and how much is still unknown — the film’s penultimate scene is grating.

From Los Angeles Times