Grate | Webster's Dictionary (1865)

Grāte, n.

noun

n. [It. grata, grada, Sp. grada, Pg. grade, L. Lat. grates, from Lat. crates, hurdle.]

A work or frame, composed of parallel or cross bars, with interstices; a kind of lattice-work, such as is used in the windows of prisons and cloisters. “A secret grate of iron bars.” Shak.
A frame of iron bars for holding coals, while burning as fuel.

Grāte, v. t.

verbtransitive

[imp. & p. p. GRATED; p. pr. & vb. n. GRATING.] To furnish with grates; to make fast with cross-bars; as, to grate a window.

Grāte, v. t.

verbtransitive

v. t. [Fr. gratter, O. Fr. grater, to scrape, scratch; Pr. & Sp. gratar, It. grattare, L. Lat. grattare, crattare, from Dan. kratte, kradse, Sw. kratta, kratsa, D. krutsen, N. H. Ger. kratzen, O. H. Ger. kratzôn.] 1. To rub roughly or harshly, as one body against another; to rub so as to produce a harsh sound; as, to grate the teeth. On their hinges grate Harsh thunder. Milton.

To wear away in small particles, by rubbing with any thing rough or indented; as, to grate a nutmeg.
To offend; to fret; to vex; to irritate; to mortify; as, harsh words grate the heart; harsh sounds grate the ear.

News, my good lord, from Rome... Grates me. Shak.

Grāte, v. t.

verbtransitive

v. t. 1. To rub hard, so as to offend; to offend by oppression or importunity. This grated harder upon the hearts of men. South. 2. To make a harsh sound by the friction of rough bodies. I had rather hear a brazen can'stick turned, Or a dry wheel grate on the axletree. Shak.

Grāte, a.

adjective

a. [O. Fr. grate, It. & Sp. grato, from Lat. gratus, agreeable, grateful.] Serving to gratify; agreeable. [Obs.] Herbert.