The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Grate \Grate\, v. i.
   1. To make a harsh sound by friction.
      [1913 Webster]

            I had rather hear a brazen canstick turned,
            Or a dry wheel grate on the exletree. --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To produce the effect of rubbing with a hard rough
      material; to cause wearing, tearing, or bruising. Hence;
      To produce exasperation, soreness, or grief; to offend by
      oppression or importunity.
      [1913 Webster]

            This grated harder upon the hearts of men. --South.
      [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Grate \Grate\, n. [LL. grata, fr. L. crates hurdle; or It.
   grata, of the same origin. Sae Crate, Hurdle.]
   1. A structure or frame containing parallel or crosed bars,
      with interstices; a kind of latticework, such as is used
      ia the windows of prisons and cloisters. "A secret grate
      of iron bars." --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. A frame or bed, or kind of basket, of iron bars, for
      holding fuel while burning.
      [1913 Webster]

   Grate surface (Steam, Boiler) the area of the surface of
      the grate upon which the fuel lies in the furnace.
      [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Grate \Grate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Grated; p. pr. & vb. n.
   Grating.]
   To furnish with grates; to protect with a grating or
   crossbars; as, to grate a window.
   [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Grate \Grate\, v. t. [OF grater to scrape, scratch, F. gratter,
   LL. gratare, cratare; of German origin; cf. OHG. chrazz[=o]n
   G. kratzen, D. krassen, Sw. Kratta, and perh. E. scratch.]
   1. To rub roughly or harshly, as one body against another,
      causing a harsh sound; as, to grate the teeth; to produce
      (a harsh sound) by rubbing.
      [1913 Webster]

            On their hinges grate
            Harsh thunder.                        --Milton.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To reduce to small particles by rubbing with anything
      rough or indented; as, to grate a nutmeg.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. To fret; to irritate; to offend.
      [1913 Webster]

            News, my good lord Rome . . . grates me. --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Grate \Grate\, a. [L. gratus agreeable, grateful: cf. It. & Sp.
   grato. See Grace, and cf. Agree.]
   Serving to gratify; agreeable. [Obs.] --Sir T. Herbert.
   [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

grate
    n 1: a frame of iron bars to hold a fire [syn: grate,
         grating]
    2: a harsh rasping sound made by scraping something
    3: a barrier that has parallel or crossed bars blocking a
       passage but admitting air [syn: grate, grating]
    v 1: furnish with a grate; "a grated fireplace"
    2: gnaw into; make resentful or angry; "The injustice rankled
       her"; "his resentment festered" [syn: eat into, fret,
       rankle, grate]
    3: reduce to small shreds or pulverize by rubbing against a
       rough or sharp perforated surface; "grate carrots and
       onions"; "grate nutmeg"
    4: make a grating or grinding sound by rubbing together; "grate
       one's teeth in anger" [syn: grate, grind]
    5: scratch repeatedly; "The cat scraped at the armchair" [syn:
       scrape, grate]

Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:

210 Moby Thesaurus words for "grate":
   ablate, abrade, abrase, afflict, aggravate, agonize, ail, andiron,
   annoy, arabesque, atomize, bark, basketry, basketwork, beat, bite,
   bolter, bray, brecciate, burn, burn up, cancellation, chafe, chain,
   clash, coal tongs, colander, comminute, conflict, contriturate,
   convulse, crane, craunch, crook, cross-hatching, crossing-out,
   crucify, crumb, crumble, crump, crunch, crush, cut, damper,
   disintegrate, distress, erase, erode, exacerbate, excruciate,
   fester, file, filigree, fire hook, fire tongs, firedog, flour,
   fragment, fray, frazzle, fret, fretwork, gall, get, give pain,
   gnaw, gnaw away, grain, granulate, granulize, grate on, grating,
   gravel, graze, grid, griddle, gridiron, grill, grille, griller,
   grillwork, grind, grind to powder, gripe, grit, hachure, harrow,
   hatching, hit a clinker, hurt, inflame, inflict pain,
   interlacement, intertexture, intertwinement, irk, irritate, jangle,
   jar, jostle, kill by inches, lace, lacerate, lacery, lacework,
   lacing, lattice, latticework, levigate, lifter, martyr, martyrize,
   mash, mesh, meshes, meshwork, mill, net, netting, nettle, network,
   nip, pain, peeve, pester, pestle, pierce, pinch, pique, plexure,
   plexus, poker, pothook, pound, powder, prick, prolong the agony,
   provoke, pulverize, put to torture, rack, raddle, rankle, rasp,
   raze, reduce to powder, reticle, reticulation, reticule, reticulum,
   riddle, rile, rub, rub away, rub off, rub out, salamander, scour,
   scranch, scrape, scratch, screech, screen, screening, scrub,
   scrunch, scuff, set on edge, shard, shred, sieve, sifter, skin,
   smash, sorter, spit, squash, stab, sting, stridulate, texture,
   tissue, tongs, torment, torture, tracery, trellis, trelliswork,
   tripod, triturate, trivet, turnspit, tweak, twist, unstring,
   untune, vex, wattle, wear, wear away, weave, weaving, web, webbing,
   webwork, weft, wicker, wickerwork, wound, wring



Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary:

Grate
   a network of brass for the bottom of the great altar of
   sacrifice (Ex. 27:4; 35:16; 38:4, 5, 30).