- 1a pattern of straight lines, usually crossing each other to form squares New York’s grid of streets Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectiverectangular, square, regular, … verb + gridsuperimpose grid + nounline, pattern, square, … See full entry
- 2a frame of metal or wooden bars that are parallel or cross each other see also cattle grid
- 3a pattern of squares on a map that are marked with letters or numbers to help you find the exact position of a place The grid reference is C8. Wordfindermapcompass, globe, GPS, grid, key, latitude, map, navigate, reference, scale Oxford Collocations Dictionary grid + nounline, reference, square, … See full entry
- 4(especially British English) a system of electric wires or pipes carrying gas, for sending power over a large area the national grid (= the electricity supply in a country) the development of the country’s electricity grid Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectiveelectric, electrical, electricity, … grid + nounsystem See full entry
- 5(in motor racing) a pattern of lines marking the starting positions for the racing cars He has been put in the front row of the starting grid.
- 6(also the Grid) [singular] (computing) a number of computers that are linked together using the Internet so that they can share power, data, etc. in order to work on difficult problems Word Originmid 19th cent.: back-formation from gridiron.Extra examples An Ordnance Survey grid reference gives the position of a place to within 100 metres. Power can be fed from wind generators into the electricity grid system. The artist drew a set of grid lines over the area to be painted. The grid lines on the map run north-south. We superimposed a grid over the image. the Manhattan street grid Each of the grid squares on the map is equal to one square kilometre.Idioms
(especially North American English) not using the public supplies of electricity, gas, water, etc. The mountain cabin is entirely off the grid. You can produce your own power and live off the grid. see also off-the-grid
Check pronunciation: grid
