noun

grill

grihl

noun

A rack of metal bars used for cooking food over direct heat.

"We fired up the grill for burgers on Saturday afternoon."

"The steak had perfect grill marks across it."

verb

To cook food over direct heat, typically outdoors.

"He grilled chicken and vegetables for the whole family."

"They grilled fish over an open fire at the campsite."

To question someone intensively and aggressively.

"The detective grilled the suspect for hours."

"My parents grilled me about where I'd been all night."

How to Use Grill

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither the metal cooking rack itself, cooking on one, or (informally) questioning someone hard.

Common pairings

fire up the grill grill someone about something grilled to perfection

Word Forms

griller comparative, more grill comparative, grilled past tense, grilled past tense, grills plural, grills singular, grills singular, grillest superlative, most grill superlative

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We fired up the _____ for burgers on Saturday afternoon.

Etymology

Borrowed in the 1600s from French gril, tracing back to Latin craticula, a small version of cratis meaning "wickerwork" — the same root that gives us "griddle" and "hurdle."

Rhymes for grill

ill kill mill sill bill will till hill fill Jill dill gill

See all rhymes for grill →