Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A grating of metal, wood, or another material used as a screen, divider, barrier, or decorative element, as in a window or on the front end of an automobile.
  • noun An opening covered with a grating.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A piece of openwork or grating, usually of metal, as wrought-iron.
  • noun A grating serving as a gate; also, a metallic grating closing a small opening, as in a door, allowing an inmate to answer inquiries and examine applicants for admission without opening the door.
  • noun The large grating separating a convent parlor into two parts, visitors being allowed only on one side of it.
  • noun In pisciculture, an apparatus for holding fish-eggs during incubation, consisting of a rectangular wooden frame 20 inches long and from 7 to 8 inches wide, into which are fastened small cylindrical glass tubes, closely placed.
  • In lace, having a background consisting of bars or brides crossing open spaces: also said of the background itself.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective A lattice or grating.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun Obsolete spelling of grill.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun small opening (like a window in a door) through which business can be transacted
  • noun grating that admits cooling air to car's radiator
  • noun a framework of metal bars used as a partition or a grate

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[French, from Old French greille; see grill.]

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Examples

  • Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. The main grille is larger, and the entire front of the car is more ventilated to provide cooling for brakes and the front Haldex differential.

    The New Bugatti: A Superman of Cars 2010

  • Also, the radiator grille is now composed of a closed, self-contained element inspired by the air intake scoop on the classic Mini.

    Gentle Mini | SciFi, Fantasy & Horror Collectibles 2009

  • Opaque purple-colored, it offers a superb aromatic array of pain grille, pencil lead, spice box, black cherry, plum, and blueberry.

    Spot the 62 pointer - Viu 1 from Chile - and some Spanish | Dr Vino's wine blog 2009

  • The grille was a slim grimace, and the nose a triangle, curved at the corners like a billiard-ball rack.

    Vroom at the Top Collins, Amy Fine 2004

  • The grille was a slim grimace, and the nose a triangle, curved at the corners like a billiard-ball rack.

    Vroom at the Top Collins, Amy Fine 2004

  • Perched on top of the grille was a hood ornament the likes of which he had never seen before.

    Stranger in the House Patricia MacDonald 1983

  • More boomings came shortly from a source Weaver finally identified as a grille over the control panels.

    The Worshippers Damon Francis Knight 1962

  • A fine bronze grille, which is, like the gates, of English workmanship, preserves the founder's tomb from injury.

    Westminster Abbey A. Murray Smith 1877

  • Close to 200 people squeezed into the back room at Brion's grille, which is a stones throw away from George Mason University.

    Waldo's Virginia Political Blogroll J.R. Hoeft 2010

  • Joining the left and right sides of the grille are the newly developed bi-xenon headlights with integrated LED indicator lights and LED cornering lights.

    Autoblog 2010

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