ENGLISH
REFERENCE

grill

n. countable
A2 Elementary US //ˈɡɹɪɫ// UK //ɡɹˈɪl// grill Archaic Humorous Informal

n. a metal frame used for cooking food over a fire or heat. You use it to cook things like burgers or vegetables outdoors.

n. a metal framework of parallel bars used for cooking food by exposure to direct radiant heat. Often used metonymically to refer to the appliance itself.


SIMPLE

Put the chicken on the grill when the coals are hot.

CONTEXTUAL

We spent the entire afternoon cleaning the grill to prepare for the family barbecue this weekend.

COMPLEX

While professional chefs often prefer charcoal for the smoky flavor it imparts, many home cooks choose gas grills for their convenience and precise temperature control.

Synonyms
Etymology 1

1655, from French gril, from Middle French gril, from Old French greïl, graïl (“gridiron”), from graïlle (“grate, grating”), from Latin crātīcula (“gridiron”), diminutive of crātis (“hurdle, wickerwork”), q.v. Related to griddle, hurdle.

Etymology 2

From Middle English grillen (“to anger, provoke”), from Old English grillan, griellan (“to annoy, vex, offend”), from Proto-West Germanic *gralljan (“to shout, make angry”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian grulje (“to make angry”), Dutch grillen (“to shudder, shiver”), Low German vergrellen (“to anger, provoke”), German grollen (“to rumble”) and perhaps also with French grouiller (“to swarm”).

Etymology 3

From Middle English gril, grille (“harsh, rough, severe”), from Old English grielle, from Proto-West Germanic grallī (“angry”), from Proto-Indo-European *gʰer- (“to rattle, make a noise, grumble”). Cognate with German grell (“harsh, angry”), Danish grel (“shrill, glaring, dazzling”).

Etymology 4

From Middle English grille, from Old English grylla, griella, from Proto-West Germanic *gralljō.

Usage

Commonly used as a modifier in compound nouns like 'grill pan' or 'grill marks'.

Idioms1 entry

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