1. (

• grate ,
• grating

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

2. (

• grate ,
• grating ,

) a frame of iron bars to hold a fire ;

3. (

• diffraction_grating ,
• grating ,

) 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 ;

1. (

• grating ,
• gravelly ,
• rasping ,
• raspy ,
• rough ,
• scratchy

) unpleasantly harsh or grating in sound; "a gravelly voice" ;