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Creak vs Grate - What's the difference?

creak | grate |

In intransitive terms the difference between creak and grate

is that creak is to make a prolonged sharp grating or squeaking sound, as by the friction of hard substances while grate is to rub against, making a (usually unpleasant) squeaking sound.

In transitive terms the difference between creak and grate

is that creak is to produce a creaking sound with while grate is to furnish with grates; to protect with a grating or crossbars.

As an adjective grate is

serving to gratify; agreeable.

creak

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • The sound produced by anything that creaks; a creaking.
  • Verb

    (en verb)
  • To make a prolonged sharp grating]] or [[squeak, squeaking sound, as by the friction of hard substances.
  • * 1856 , Eleanor Marx-Aveling (translator), (Gustave Flaubert) (author), (Madame Bovary), Part III, Chapter 10:
  • Then when the four ropes were arranged the coffin was placed upon them. He watched it descend; it seemed descending for ever. At last a thud was heard; the ropes creaked as they were drawn up.
  • * 1901 , , (w, The Monkey's Paw):
  • He heard the creaking of the bolt as it came slowly back, and at the same moment he found the monkey's paw, and frantically breathed his third and last wish.
  • To produce a creaking sound with.
  • * Shakespeare
  • Creaking my shoes on the plain masonry.
  • * 20th century , Theodore Roethke, On the Road to Woodlawn
  • I miss the polished brass, the powerful black horses,
    The drivers creaking the seats of the baroque hearses

    Derived terms

    * creaky

    grate

    English

    Etymology 1

    (lena) grata, from (etyl) word for a hurdle; or (etyl) grata, of the same origin.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A horizontal metal grille through which water, ash, or small objects can fall, while larger objects cannot.
  • The grate stopped the sheep from escaping from their field.
  • * Shakespeare
  • a secret grate of iron bars
  • A frame or bed, or kind of basket, of iron bars, for holding fuel while burning.
  • Synonyms
    * grille

    Verb

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

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) Etymology] of kradse in [[:w:da:ODS, ODS] and Danish kratte.

    Verb

  • (cooking) To shred things, usually foodstuffs, by rubbing across a grater.
  • To rub against, making a (usually unpleasant) squeaking sound.
  • * 1856 : (Gustave Flaubert), (Madame Bovary), Part 3 Chapter X, translated by Eleanor Marx-Aveling
  • The gate suddenly grated . It was Lestiboudois; he came to fetch his spade, that he had forgotten. He recognised Justin climbing over the wall, and at last knew who was the culprit who stole his potatoes.
  • * , chapter=7
  • , title= The Mirror and the Lamp , passage=The turmoil went on—no rest, no peace. […] It was nearly eleven o'clock now, and he strolled out again. In the little fair created by the costers' barrows the evening only seemed beginning; and the naphtha flares made one's eyes ache, the men's voices grated harshly, and the girls' faces saddened one.}}
  • (by extension) To ; to irritate or annoy.
  • (by extension, transitive, obsolete) To annoy.
  • * Shakespeare
  • News, my good lord Rome grates me.
    Derived terms
    * grater * grating * gratings * grate upon

    Etymology 3

    (etyl) (lena) .

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (obsolete) Serving to gratify; agreeable.
  • References

    Anagrams

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