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
grazes 1 of 3
noun
as in bruises
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
Relevance
- bruises
- abrasions
- scrapes
- galls
- bedsores
grazes
2 of 3verb (1)
as in pastures
to feed on grass or herbs cows grazing in the meadow Synonyms & Similar Words
- pastures
- rustles
- forages
- feeds
- eats
- browses
- nibbles
- stocks
- overgrazes
- ranges
grazes
3 of 3verb (2)
1
as in scrapes
to damage by rubbing against a sharp or rough surface I grazed my elbow diving for the ball Synonyms & Similar Words
- scrapes
- scratches
- bruises
- scuffs
- abrades
- barks
- cuts
- claws
- lacerates
- skins
- chafes
- galls
- frets
- contuses
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- softens
- smooths
- smoothes
- waxes
- polishes
2
as in brushes
to pass lightly across or touch gently especially in passing the volleyball just grazed my face, so I'm okay Synonyms & Similar Words
- brushes
- kisses
- skims
- shaves
- touches
- scrapes
- caresses
- nudges
- misses
- bumps
- pats
- strokes
- sweeps
- skips
- swipes
- strikes
- contacts
- sideswipes
- ricochets
- glances
- bounces
- pets
- rebounds
- loves
- fondles
- cuddles
- skirts
- caroms
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- knocks
- hits
- slaps
- impinges
- bumps
- smashes
- collides
- impacts
- slams
- smacks
- swipes
- crashes
- whacks
- punches
- rams
- bangs
- clashes
- thwacks
- bashes
- thuds
- acquiesce (to)
- acquiesce to
- acquiesced
- acquiesced (to)
- acquiesced to
- acquiescence
- acquiescences
- acquiescency
- acquiescent
- acquiescently
- acquiesces
- acquiesces (to)
- acquiesces to
- acquiescing
- acquiescing (to)
- acquiescing to
- acquighted
- acquighting
- acquights
- acquirable
- acquire
- acquire a reputation
- acquired
- acquired brain injuries
- acquired brain injury