Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary · 1913

Grate

Grate , adjective

[Latin gratus agreeable, grateful: compare Italian & Sp. grato. See Grace, and compare Agree.]

Serving to gratify; agreeable. [Obsolete] — Sir T. Herbert

Grate , noun

[Late Latin grata, from Latin crates hurdle; or Italian grata, of the same origin. Sae Crate, Hurdle.]

1.
A structure or frame containing parallel or crosed bars, with interstices; a kind of latticework, such as is used ia the windows of prisons and cloisters.
A secret grate of iron bars. — Shakespeare
2.
A frame or bed, or kind of basket, of iron bars, for holding fuel while burning.
Collocations (1)
Grate surface (Steam, Boiler) , the area of the surface of the grate upon which the fuel lies in the furnace.

Grate , transitive verb

To furnish with grates; to protect with a grating or crossbars; as, to grate a window.

Grate , transitive verb

[OF grater to scrape, scratch, French gratter, Late Latin gratare, cratare; of German origin; compare Old High German chrazzōn German kratzen, Dutch krassen, Swedish Kratta, and perh. English scratch.]

1.
To rub roughly or harshly, as one body against another, causing a harsh sound; as, to grate the teeth; to produce (a harsh sound) by rubbing.
On their hinges grate Harsh thunder. — Milton
2.
To reduce to small particles by rubbing with anything rough or indented; as, to grate a nutmeg.
3.
To fret; to irritate; to offend.
News, my good lord Rome... grates me. — Shakespeare

Grate , intransitive verb

1.
To make a harsh sound by friction.
I had rather hear a brazen canstick turned, Or a dry wheel grate on the exletree. — Shakespeare
2.
To produce the effect of rubbing with a hard rough material; to cause wearing, tearing, or bruising. Hence; To produce exasperation, soreness, or grief; to offend by oppression or importunity.
This grated harder upon the hearts of men. — South