grating

/ˈɡreɪ.tɪŋ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈɡreɪ.t̬ɪŋ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈgrā-tiŋ/ (ame, mw) · /ˈɡreɪtɪŋ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈɡreɪtɪŋ/ (ame, ipa)

grating — adjective

  • gratingpositive
  • more gratingcomparative
  • most gratingsuperlative

1. describes a noise that scrapes on the ear and is unpleasant to listen to, like m

1.形容詞C1
釋義

describes a noise that scrapes on the ear and is unpleasant to listen to, like metal rubbing on metal.

例句

Camila spoke in a grating voice that made the toddlers cover their ears.

grating + voice

The old gate opened with a grating squeak across the gravel path.

grating + squeak (mechanical noise)

同義詞
  • harsh

    broader; describes any rough or severe quality, not just sound.

  • jarring

    stresses the sudden shock of the noise rather than its rough texture.

  • rasping

    specifically a dry scraping sound, often of a throat or rough surface.

反義詞
  • soothing

    calms rather than irritates the listener.

  • melodious

    pleasant to hear; the opposite quality for voice or music.

文法句型

grating + noun (voice/sound/laugh)

用法筆記

Almost always attached to nouns of sound (voice, laugh, sound, noise). Less common as a bare predicate.

常見錯誤

❌The music was grating to me.
✅The music was grating.
💡drop the redundant 'to me'; the word already implies it affects the listener.

2. feeling like a constant low-level irritation because of behaviour or a manner th

2.形容詞C1
釋義

feeling like a constant low-level irritation because of behaviour or a manner that wears on your patience, even when nothing dramatic is wrong.

例句

Pedro found his cousin's smug comments grating after the third dinner together.

find + grating (behaviour)

Sari said the host's grating cheerfulness made the workshop feel twice as long.

grating + cheerfulness

同義詞
  • irritating

    more general; covers any source of annoyance, not just sustained manner.

  • annoying

    everyday word; less specific about the slow-wearing quality.

  • tiresome

    stresses that the irritation comes from repetition or duration.

反義詞
  • endearing

    creates affection rather than mild annoyance.

  • charming

    pleases people through manner rather than irritating them.

文法句型

find + something + grating

grating + behaviour-noun

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 1: this sense is about behaviour or manner wearing on someone, not about acoustic quality. Often paired with 'find' + object + grating.

常見錯誤

❌I am grating about the noise.
✅The noise is grating to me.
💡'grating' describes the thing that annoys, not the person who feels annoyed.

grating — noun