grating

Meanings

1. Harsh and unpleasant.
2. Annoying; tending to annoy.

1. A barrier that has parallel or crossed bars blocking a passage but admitting air.
2. A frame of iron bars to hold a fire.
3. The loose material that comes from something being grated.
4. An optical system of close equidistant and parallel lines or bars, especially lines ruled on a polished surface, used for producing spectra by diffraction.
5. The strong wooden lattice used to cover a hatch, admitting light and air; also, a movable lattice used for the flooring of boats.
6. The sound made by something that grates against something else.

1. present participle and gerund of grate

Etymology

From grat(e) + -ing.