graze
1 of 4verb (1)
ˈgrāz 
grazed; grazing
intransitive verb
1
: to feed on growing herbage, attached algae, or phytoplankton
cattle grazing on the slopes
2
: to eat small portions of food throughout the day
She was grazing on snacks all afternoon.
transitive verb
1
a
: to crop and eat in the field
b
: to feed on the herbage of
2
a
: to put to graze
grazed his livestock in pastures
b
: to put cattle to graze on
grazed the upper field
3
: to supply herbage for the grazing of
That pasture will graze 30 head of cattle.
grazeable adjective
or grazable
ˈgrā-zə-bəl
grazer noun
graze
2 of 4noun (1)
1
: an act of grazing
2
: herbage for livestock to feed on
graze
3 of 4verb (2)
grazed; grazing
transitive verb
1
: to touch lightly in passing
The car's wheel grazed the curb.
2
: abrade, scratch
grazed her knee when she fell
intransitive verb
: to touch or rub against something in passing
Our fenders just grazed.
graze
4 of 4noun (2)
: a scraping along a surface or an abrasion made by it
especially : a superficial abrasion of the skin
had a slight graze on her knee from falling
Synonyms
Verb (1)
- browse
- forage
- pasture
- rustle
Verb (2)
- abrade
- scrape
- scratch
- scuff
Noun (2)
- abrasion
- bruise
- scrape
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Word History
Etymology
Verb (1) and Noun (1)
Middle English grasen, from Old English grasian, from græs grass
Verb (2) and Noun (2)
perhaps from graze entry 1
First Known Use
Verb (1)
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1
Noun (1)
1857, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb (2)
1604, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Noun (2)
1847, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
graze 1 of 3
verb
ˈgrāz
grazed; grazing
1
: to eat grass
The cattle grazed.
2
: to supply with grass or pasture The farmer grazed the cattle.
graze
2 of 3verb
grazed; grazing
1
: to rub lightly in passing : barely touch
The bat just grazed the ball.
2
: to scrape by rubbing against something
… one of the long spikes grazed his shoulder, ripping his robes …
J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Firegraze
3 of 3noun
: a scrape or mark caused by scraping against something
graze 1 of 3
verb (1)
as in to pasture
to feed on grass or herbs cows grazing in the meadow Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- pasture
- forage
- feed
- eat
- rustle
- browse
- nibble
- overgraze
- stock
- range
graze
2 of 3verb (2)
1
as in to scrape
to damage by rubbing against a sharp or rough surface I grazed my elbow diving for the ball Synonyms & Similar Words
- scrape
- scratch
- abrade
- scuff
- bruise
- bark
- skin
- lacerate
- claw
- cut
- chafe
- fret
- gall
- contuse
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- soften
- smooth
- polish
- wax
2
as in to brush
to pass lightly across or touch gently especially in passing the volleyball just grazed my face, so I'm okay Synonyms & Similar Words
- brush
- kiss
- skim
- caress
- shave
- nudge
- scrape
- touch
- pat
- sweep
- miss
- bump
- stroke
- contact
- strike
- skip
- swipe
- bounce
- ricochet
- rebound
- pet
- cuddle
- fondle
- glance
- sideswipe
- love
- skirt
- carom
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- hit
- impinge
- knock
- bump
- collide
- swipe
- slap
- smash
- smack
- whack
- impact
- slam
- bang
- punch
- ram
- crash
- clash
- bash
- thud
- thwack
graze
3 of 3noun
as in bruise
an area of skin roughened or worn away by harsh rubbing against another surface a stumble that resulted in nothing more serious than a graze on the knee Synonyms & Similar Words
- bruise
- abrasion
- scrape
- gall
- bedsore
- block copolymer
- block dance
- block diagram
- block dissection
- block down
- block faulting
- block figure
- block foot
- block grant
- block grants
- block in
- block interlocking system
- Block Island
- block lava
- block letter
- block mold
- block mountain
- block of flats
- block off
- block operator
- block out
- block paper
- block paragraph
- block party
- block plan