Grate vs. Great — What's the Difference?

To reduce to fragments, shreds, or powder by rubbing against an abrasive surface.

Very large in size, extent, or intensity

To cause to make a harsh grinding or rasping sound through friction

Of a larger size than other, similar forms

To irritate or annoy persistently

Large in quantity or number

(Archaic) To rub or wear away.

Extensive in time or distance

To make a harsh rasping sound

Remarkable or outstanding in magnitude, degree, or extent

To cause irritation or annoyance

Of outstanding significance or importance

To equip with a grate.

Chief or principal

A harsh rasping sound made by scraping or rubbing

Superior in quality or character; noble

A framework of parallel or latticed bars for blocking an opening.

Powerful; influential

A framework of metal bars used to hold fuel or food in a stove, furnace, or fireplace.

Eminent; distinguished

A fireplace.

Very good; first-rate

A perforated iron plate or screen for sieving and grading crushed ore.

Very skillful

A horizontal metal grill through which water, ash, or small objects can fall, while larger objects cannot.

Enthusiastic

A frame or bed, or kind of basket, of iron bars, for holding fuel while burning.

Being one generation removed from the relative specified. Often used in combination

(historical) A grapper, a metal ring on a lance behind the grip.

(Archaic) Pregnant.

(transitive) To furnish with grates; to protect with a grating or crossbars.

Pl. greats or great One that is great

To shred (things, usually foodstuffs), by rubbing across a grater.

A division of most pipe organs, usually containing the most powerful ranks of pipes.

(intransitive) To make an unpleasant rasping sound, often as the result of rubbing against something.

A similar division of other organs.

To get on one's nerves; to irritate, annoy.

Very well

To annoy.

Used as an intensive with certain adjectives

(obsolete) Serving to gratify; agreeable.

(augmentative) Large, senior high-ranking, intense, extreme, or exceptional

Serving to gratify; agreeable.

Relatively large in scale, size, extent, number (i.e. having many parts or members) or duration (i.e. relatively long); very big.

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.

Title referring to an important leader.

A frame or bed, or kind of basket, of iron bars, for holding fuel while burning.

Of larger size or more importance than others of its kind.

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

(informal) Very good; excellent; wonderful; fantastic.

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.

Intensifying a word or expression, used in mild oaths.

To reduce to small particles by rubbing with anything rough or indented; as, to grate a nutmeg.

(qualifying nouns of family relationship) Involving more generations than the qualified word implies — as many extra generations as repetitions of the word great (from 1510s). [see Derived terms]

To fret; to irritate; to offend.

Pregnant; large with young; full of.

To make a harsh sound by friction.

Intimate; familiar.

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.

Extreme or more than usual.

A frame of iron bars to hold a fire

Of significant importance or consequence; important.

A harsh rasping sound made by scraping something

(applied to actions, thoughts and feelings) Arising from or possessing idealism; admirable; superior; commanding; heroic; illustrious; eminent.

A barrier that has parallel or crossed bars blocking a passage but admitting air

Impressive or striking.

Furnish with a grate;

Much in use; favoured.

Gnaw into; make resentful or angry;

(applied to persons) Endowed with extraordinary powers; of exceptional talents or achievements; uncommonly gifted; able to accomplish vast results; remarkable; strong; powerful; mighty; noble.

Reduce to small shreds or pulverize by rubbing against a rough or sharp perforated surface;

Doing or exemplifying (a characteristic or pursuit) on a large scale; active or enthusiastic.

Make a grating or grinding sound by rubbing together;

(often followed by 'at') Skilful or adroit.

Scratch repeatedly;

Expression of gladness and content about something.

Sarcastic inversion thereof.

A person of major significance, accomplishment or acclaim.

(music) The main division in a pipe organ, usually the loudest division.

(in combinations such as "two-greats", "three-greats" etc.) An instance of the word "great" signifying an additional generation in phrases expressing family relationships.

(informal) Very well in a very satisfactory manner.

Large in space; of much size; big; immense; enormous; expanded; - opposed to small and little; as, a great house, ship, farm, plain, distance, length.

Large in number; numerous; as, a great company, multitude, series, etc.

Long continued; lengthened in duration; prolonged in time; as, a great while; a great interval.

Superior; admirable; commanding; - applied to thoughts, actions, and feelings.

Endowed with extraordinary powers; uncommonly gifted; able to accomplish vast results; strong; powerful; mighty; noble; as, a great hero, scholar, genius, philosopher, etc.

Holding a chief position; elevated: lofty: eminent; distinguished; foremost; principal; as, great men; the great seal; the great marshal, etc.

Entitled to earnest consideration; weighty; important; as, a great argument, truth, or principle.

Pregnant; big (with young).

More than ordinary in degree; very considerable in degree; as, to use great caution; to be in great pain.

Older, younger, or more remote, by single generation; - often used before grand to indicate one degree more remote in the direct line of descent; as, great-grandfather (a grandfather's or a grandmother's father), great-grandson, etc.

The whole; the gross; as, a contract to build a ship by the great.

Relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind;

More than usual;

(used of persons) standing above others in character or attainment or reputation;

Of major significance or importance;

Remarkable or out of the ordinary in degree or magnitude or effect;

Very good;

Uppercase;

Marked by active interest and enthusiasm;

In an advanced stage of pregnancy;