grill

grill — noun

1. the metal surface inside an oven or cooker that gets extremely hot and is used t

1.nounB1
Definition

the metal surface inside an oven or cooker that gets extremely hot and is used to cook food placed underneath it

Example

Élise placed the fish under the grill and set the timer for eight minutes.

placed [food] under the grill

The grill in Devika's oven broke, so she cooked the toast in a pan instead.

Common collocations
  • under the grill
  • on the grill
  • clean the grill
  • hot grill
  • grill pan
Synonyms
  • broiler

    standard US term for the same appliance; 'grill' in US usually means an outdoor cooking frame

Grammar Patterns

the grill

under the grill

on the grill

Usage Note

Commonly used with 'under' to describe the position of food. In American English, this appliance is usually called a 'broiler', not a 'grill'.

Common Mistakes

Put the meat in the grill.
Put the meat under the grill.
Food is placed under the heat source, not inside the grill.

2. a metal frame placed over burning charcoal, wood, or gas flames, used for cookin

2.nounB1
Definition

a metal frame placed over burning charcoal, wood, or gas flames, used for cooking food outdoors

Example

Hoa lit the charcoal in the grill and waited for the flames to die down.

collocation: light the charcoal in the grill

The metal bars on Anong's old grill are covered with rust and need replacing.

Common collocations
  • on the grill
  • charcoal grill
  • gas grill
  • portable grill
  • light the grill
  • grill lid
  • grill grate
Synonyms
  • barbecue

    used in British English for the same device; in US English more commonly refers to the event or cooking style

  • BBQ

    informal abbreviation for barbecue

Grammar Patterns

on the grill

over a grill

Usage Note

Often called a 'barbecue' or 'BBQ' in informal British English. In American English, 'grill' is the standard term for this device, while 'barbecue' often refers to the event or a specific slow-cooking method.

Common Mistakes

I cooked the meat on grill.
I cooked the meat on the grill.
'Grill' is a countable noun and needs a determiner like 'the' or 'a'.

3. a relaxed restaurant where most dishes are made by cooking steak, burgers, or fi

3.nounB2
Definition

a relaxed restaurant where most dishes are made by cooking steak, burgers, or fish over a fire or hot coals

Example

The family went to a grill near the beach for dinner on Friday evening.

a grill near [place]

Olivia works part-time at a steak grill in the city centre during summer.

collocation: steak grill

Common collocations
  • steak grill
  • seafood grill
  • American grill
  • grill restaurant
Synonyms
  • steakhouse

    specifically a restaurant serving beef steaks; more specialised than a grill

Grammar Patterns

a [type] grill

Usage Note

The word 'grill' here is part of the restaurant's name or type (e.g. 'steak grill', 'seafood grill'). It is less common as a standalone noun for any informal restaurant.

grill — verb

Word family

  • grilled
    adjectiveA2
  • griller
    nounB1
  • grilling
    nounB1
  • grill pan
    nounB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All three words describe cooking with direct heat, but they differ in equipment and region. 'Grill' (verb sense 1) means cooking food on a set of metal bars above an open fire, charcoal, or gas flames — typically outdoors. 'Barbecue' in British English can mean the same activity but often suggests a slower, saucier cooking style with wood smoke. In American English, 'barbecue' (BBQ) is a distinct slow-cooking method with smoke and sauce, not the same as grilling. 'Broil' is the American term for cooking under direct heat inside an oven — the British call this 'grilling' (verb sense 2). So while a US cook 'grills' burgers outside and 'broils' bacon inside, a UK cook 'grills' both, but would say 'barbecue' for the outdoor event. Choosing the right word depends on your audience and the cooking method: for fast, high-heat outdoor cooking, use 'grill'; for slow, smoky cooking, use 'barbecue'; for oven-top heat, use 'broil' (US) or 'grill' (UK).

grill ↗barbecue ↗broil

Common collocations

Nouns

  • grill marks
  • grill pan
  • grill rack
  • grill lid

Adverbs

  • freshly grilled
  • well-grilled
  • lightly grilled

Phrases

  • throw something on the grill
  • put food on the grill
  • take [food] off the grill

Prepositions

  • on the grill
  • under the grill
  • over a grill

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'grill' entered English in the 1600s from French 'gril', meaning a grid of metal bars for cooking. The French word came from Latin 'craticula', a small grid or grate, which itself came from 'cratis', meaning wickerwork or a hurdle — a frame made of woven branches. The idea of a 'grid' or 'lattice' runs through the whole history. The figurative sense of questioning someone intensely (verb sense 3) emerged in the late 1800s, based on the image of being 'put on the grill' — subjected to harsh, direct heat or pressure.