grating
/'greitiɳ/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Adjective:
- Unpleasantly harsh or irritating to the senses, especially hearing: Describes a sound that is rough, jarring, and causes discomfort.
- Causing irritation or annoyance: Can describe something that is metaphorically irritating or abrasive in manner or effect.
Noun:
- A framework of parallel or crossed bars: A structure, typically of metal, with bars placed across an opening, used as a cover, screen, or barrier.
- An optical component with many parallel lines: A device used in physics to disperse light or other radiation into its spectrum.
- (Archaic) A harsh, rasping sound: The act or instance of making a grating noise.
Usage and Examples
Adjective:
- His grating voice made it difficult to listen to the long lecture.
- The constant, grating noise of the machinery gave everyone a headache.
Noun (Framework of bars):
- The prison cell window was fitted with a heavy iron grating.
- A metal grating covered the drain in the street.
Noun (Optical device):
- The scientist used a diffraction grating to analyze the light's wavelength.
Advanced Usage and Nuances
- Metaphorical Use (Adjective): Often used to describe behavior or personality traits perceived as persistently annoying.
- Her grating insistence on perfection frustrated the team.
- "Grating on": This phrasal structure indicates something that continuously irritates.
- His constant complaining is really grating on my nerves.
Variants and Related Words
- Grate (verb): To make a harsh, scraping sound; to irritate or annoy.
- The rusty hinge grates when you open the door.
- His arrogant attitude grates on me.
- Grated (adjective): Reduced to small shreds by rubbing against a rough surface (e.g., grated cheese).
- Gratingly (adverb): In a grating manner.
- He spoke gratingly, his tone full of sarcasm.
Synonyms
- Adjective: Jarring, rasping, strident, discordant, irritating, annoying.
- Noun (Framework): Grid, grille, lattice, mesh.
Antonyms
- Adjective: Melodious, soothing, pleasant, agreeable.
Related Phrases and Idioms
- To grate on someone/something: To have an irritating effect.
- The sound of fingernails on a chalkboard grates on most people.
- A grating experience: An experience that is metaphorically irritating or harsh.
- The meeting was a grating experience due to the lack of cooperation.
Adjective
- unpleasantly harsh or grating in sound
- a gravelly voice
Noun
- optical device consisting of a surface with many parallel grooves in it; disperses a beam of light (or other electromagnetic radiation) into its wavelengths to produce its spectrum
- a frame of iron bars to hold a fire
- a barrier that has parallel or crossed bars blocking a passage but admitting air