grater: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral
Quick answer
What does “grater” mean?
A kitchen utensil with a rough, perforated surface used for shredding food (especially cheese, vegetables) into small pieces.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A kitchen utensil with a rough, perforated surface used for shredding food (especially cheese, vegetables) into small pieces.
Any tool or device with an abrasive surface designed to shred, scrape, or reduce materials to fine particles or shreds.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Both varieties use the same term.
Connotations
Neutral, purely functional in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally common in both culinary contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “grater” in a Sentence
Use [grater] to grate [object]Grate [object] on/with a [grater][object] + be + grated + using/in a [grater]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “grater” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- She carefully grated the mature cheddar.
- Mind you don't grate your fingers!
American English
- He grated the potatoes for hash browns.
- Don't grate the grater on the glass surface.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable.
American English
- Not applicable.
adjective
British English
- A grater tool is essential. (less common, usually attributive noun)
American English
- A grater blade attachment for the mixer. (less common, usually attributive noun)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare; might appear in retail/culinary equipment manufacturing.
Academic
Rare; might appear in food science, domestic technology.
Everyday
Common in domestic, culinary, and recipe contexts.
Technical
Used in culinary arts, kitchen utensil design.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “grater”
- Spelling confusion with 'greater'. Incorrect: 'I need a greater for the cheese.' (unless meaning 'larger one'). Incorrect use of preposition: 'grate on the grater' (better: 'grate with a grater').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Often used interchangeably, but a grater typically has smaller, sharper holes producing finer shreds or powder (like cheese), while a shredder might have larger openings for thicker strips (like cabbage).
No, 'grater' is only a noun. The related verb is 'to grate' (e.g., to grate cheese).
In French: 'râpe'. In German: 'Reibe'. In Spanish: 'rallador'. In Russian: 'тёрка' (tyorka).
Use a holder for the item being grated, keep fingers clear of the grating surface, and always grate away from your body. Some graters come with hand guards.
A kitchen utensil with a rough, perforated surface used for shredding food (especially cheese, vegetables) into small pieces.
Grater is usually neutral in register.
Grater: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɡreɪtə(r)/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɡreɪtər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Run your knuckles against the grater (to describe an unpleasant or risky experience)”
- “Like grating cheese (to describe a repetitive, easy task)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: A Grater makes things GREATER in surface area by shredding them.
Conceptual Metaphor
TOOL FOR REDUCTION (A device that transforms a whole into many small parts, often for incorporation/consumption).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary function of a grater?