Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *gʰreh₁-der.
Proto-Germanic *grasą
Proto-Indo-European *-h₂
Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂
Proto-Indo-European *-yéti
Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti
Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ti
Proto-Germanic *-ōną
Proto-Germanic *grasōną
Proto-West Germanic *grasōn
Old English grasian
Middle English grasen
English graze
Inherited from Middle English grasen (“to feed with grass”), from Old English grasian, from Proto-West Germanic *grasōn, from Proto-Germanic *grasōną, from *grasą (“grass”) + *-ōną (verbal suffix). Doublet of grass.
Meanings
The act of grazing; a scratching or injuring lightly on passing.
A light abrasion; a slight scratch.
The act of animals feeding from pasture.
If it be sundown, when the herds are returning from their daily graze in the long grass of the jungle, clouds of dust will be marking their track along every approach to the village […] 1904, Empire Review, volume 6, page 188:
Forms
Spelling
Features
Labels
Source
grazes
Number=Plur
lexicographic
Translations (59)
de Schleifen (act of grazing or scratching lightly) · hu karcolás (light scratch) · fi hipaisu (act of grazing or scratching lightly) · hu súrolás (act of grazing or scratching lightly) · oc escorgadura (act of grazing or scratching lightly) · mn ᠬᠥᠩᢉᠡᠨ ᠰᠢᠷᠬᠠ (light scratch) · el γρατζουνιά (light scratch) · ru сса́дина (light scratch) · cs škrábnutí (light scratch) · ru задева́ние (act of grazing or scratching lightly) · zza gaz (diq) (act of grazing or scratching lightly) · ca esgarrapada (act of grazing or scratching lightly) · pt arranhão (act of grazing or scratching lightly) · pt ralado (light scratch) · de Kratzen (act of grazing or scratching lightly) · de Schürfen (act of grazing or scratching lightly) · el γδάρσιμο (act of grazing or scratching lightly) · cs škrábanec (light scratch) · es rasguño (light scratch) · zza qırsık (light scratch) · ja 擦り傷 (light scratch) · de Schürfwunde (light scratch) · bg драскотина (light scratch) · pt raspado (act of grazing or scratching lightly) · de Schrammen (act of grazing or scratching lightly) · tr sıyırmak (act of grazing or scratching lightly) · it escoriazione (light scratch) · fi naarmu (light scratch) · mk допи́рање (act of grazing or scratching lightly) · tr sıyırma (act of grazing or scratching lightly) · it sbucciatura (act of grazing or scratching lightly) · el γρατζούνισμα (act of grazing or scratching lightly) · pt arranhão (light scratch) · zza sawen (act of grazing or scratching lightly) · mk гре́бење (act of grazing or scratching lightly) · fi naarmuttaminen (act of grazing or scratching lightly) · pt raspado (light scratch) · de Schaben (act of grazing or scratching lightly) · mk гребна́тинка (light scratch) · el αμυχή (light scratch) · fi raapaisu (act of grazing or scratching lightly) · es arañazo (act of grazing or scratching lightly) · es rasguño (act of grazing or scratching lightly) · sv toucha (act of grazing or scratching lightly) · tr sıyrık (light scratch) · bg закачане (act of grazing or scratching lightly) · de Kratzer (light scratch) · sv tuscha (act of grazing or scratching lightly) · bg докосване (act of grazing or scratching lightly) · de Schramme (light scratch) · fr éraflure (act of grazing or scratching lightly) · oc escarraunhadura (act of grazing or scratching lightly) · pt ralado (act of grazing or scratching lightly) · nb streife (act of grazing or scratching lightly) · de Abschürfung (light scratch) · cs škrábnutí (act of grazing or scratching lightly) · mn хөнгөн шарх (light scratch) · ru цара́пина (light scratch) · ar سَحَج (light scratch)
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *gʰreh₁-der.
Proto-Germanic *grasą
Proto-Indo-European *-h₂
Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂
Proto-Indo-European *-yéti
Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti
Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ti
Proto-Germanic *-ōną
Proto-Germanic *grasōną
Proto-West Germanic *grasōn
Old English grasian
Middle English grasen
English graze
Inherited from Middle English grasen (“to feed with grass”), from Old English grasian, from Proto-West Germanic *grasōn, from Proto-Germanic *grasōną, from *grasą (“grass”) + *-ōną (verbal suffix). Doublet of grass.
Meanings
(transitive) To feed or supply (cattle, sheep, etc.) with grass; to furnish pasture for.
Although it is perfectly good meadowland, none of the villagers has ever grazed animals on the meadow on the other side of the wall. 1999, Neil Gaiman, Stardust:
He hath a Houſe and Barn in repair, a Field or two to graze his Cows, with a Garden and Orchard. 1732 March 6 (Gregorian calendar; date written), [Jonathan Swift], Considerations upon Two Bills Sent Down from the R[ight] H[onourable] the H[ouse] of L[ords] to the H[onoura]ble H[ouse] of C[ommons of Ireland] Relating to the Clergy of I[relan]d, London: […] A. Moore, […], published 1732, →OCLC, page 24:
(ambitransitive) To feed on; to eat (growing herbage); to eat grass from (a pasture)
Cattle graze in the meadows.
The bird [Canada goose] is more often found on land than other waterfowl because of its love for seeds and grains. The long neck is well adapted for grazing. 1993, John Montroll, Origami Inside-Out, page 41:
The lambs vvith vvolves ſhall graze the verdant mead, / And boys in flovv'ry bands the tyger lead; […] 1712 (date written), Alexander Pope, “Messiah. A Sacred Eclogue, in Imitation of Virgil’s Pollio.”, in The Works of Alexander Pope Esq. […], volume I, London: […] J[ohn] and P[aul] Knapton, H. Lintot, J[acob] and R[ichard] Tonson, and S. Draper, published 1751, →OCLC, page 41, lines 77–78:
(transitive) To tend (cattle, etc.) while grazing.
Shylock: When Jacob grazed his uncle Laban's sheep c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iii]:
(intransitive) To eat small amounts of food periodically throughout the day, rather than at fixed mealtimes, often not in response to hunger.
Furthermore, people who take the time to sit down to proper meals find their food more satisfying than people who graze throughout the day. If you skip meals, you will inevitably end up snacking on more high-fat high-sugar foods. 2008, Mohgah Elsheikh, Caroline Murphy, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome:
Many people, however, snack and graze from roughly the time they wake up until shortly before they go to bed. 2018 July 24, Anahad O’Connor, “When We Eat, or Don’t Eat, May Be Critical for Health”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:
To shoplift by consuming food or drink items before reaching the checkout.
Had the Grievant attempted to pay for the Mylanta or actually paid for it, then she would not be guilty of grazing or shoplifting. 2001, Labor Arbitration Information System, volume 2, page 59:
Grazing refers to customers who consume food items before paying for them, for example, a customer bags one and a half pounds of grapes in the produce department, eats some as she continues her shopping […] 1992, Shoplifting, page 18:
(transitive) To rub or touch lightly the surface of (a thing) in passing.
the bullet grazed the wall
But in that gale, the port, the land, is that ship’s direst jeopardy; she must fly all hospitality; one touch of land, though it but graze the keel, would make her shudder through and through. 1851 November 14, Herman Melville, chapter XXIII, in Moby-Dick; or, The Whale, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers; London: Richard Bentley, →OCLC:
(transitive) To cause a slight wound to; to scratch.
to graze one's knee
(intransitive) To yield grass for grazing.
The sewers must be kept so as the water may not stay too long in the spring; for then the ground continueth the wet, whereby it will never graze to purpose that year. 1627 (indicated as 1626), Francis [Bacon], “(please specify the page, or |century=I to X)”, in Sylua Syluarum: Or A Naturall Historie. In Ten Centuries. […], London: […] William Rawley […]; [p]rinted by J[ohn] H[aviland] for William Lee […], →OCLC:
ca péixer (to eat grass from a pasture) · sq kullos (to feed or supply with grass) · ca esgarrapar (to cause a slight wound to) · de schrammen (to rub or touch lightly the surface of in passing) · mr चारणे (to feed or supply with grass) · yi פּאַשען (to tend cattle while grazing) · fr écorcher (to cause a slight wound to) · rup pascu (to tend cattle while grazing) · de hüten (to tend cattle while grazing) · nl schampen (to rub or touch lightly the surface of in passing) · fr faire paître (to feed or supply with grass) · es pastar (to feed or supply with grass) · vi chăn (to feed or supply with grass) · zza çeren (to eat grass from a pasture) · it rasentare (to rub or touch lightly the surface of in passing) · tr otlatmak (to feed or supply with grass) · bg зака́чам (to rub or touch lightly the surface of in passing) · ro pășuna (to feed or supply with grass) · mhr авалташ (to feed or supply with grass) · cy pori (to feed or supply with grass) · sk pásť (to feed or supply with grass) · it sfiorare (to rub or touch lightly the surface of in passing) · de grasen (to eat grass from a pasture) · bg ожу́лвам (to cause a slight wound to) · cs škrábnout (to rub or touch lightly the surface of in passing) · bg одра́скам (to rub or touch lightly the surface of in passing) · ga scinn (to rub or touch lightly the surface of in passing) · ota چایرلامق (to feed or supply with grass) · mi kai karaehe (to eat grass from a pasture) · it spellare (to cause a slight wound to) · zza sera werden (to rub or touch lightly the surface of in passing) · ro paște (to feed or supply with grass) · zza gaz kerden (to rub or touch lightly the surface of in passing) · pt dar de pastar (to feed or supply with grass) · it sbucciare (to cause a slight wound to) · ne चर्नु (to eat grass from a pasture) · it brucare (to eat grass from a pasture) · fi sivuta (to rub or touch lightly the surface of in passing) · el γδέρνω (to cause a slight wound to) · gl pastar (to eat grass from a pasture) · ro pășuna (to tend cattle while grazing) · it lambire (to rub or touch lightly the surface of in passing) · fi hipaista (to rub or touch lightly the surface of in passing) · sh pȃsti (to feed or supply with grass) · tr otlatmak (to tend cattle while grazing) · es pastear (to feed or supply with grass) · de beweiden (to feed or supply with grass) · ca pasturar (to eat grass from a pasture) · de schürfen (to cause a slight wound to) · fr pâturer (to eat grass from a pasture) · oc apasturgar (to feed or supply with grass) · om dheeduu (to feed or supply with grass) · ml മേയ്ക്കുക (to feed or supply with grass) · no gresse (to eat grass from a pasture) · ko 풀을 뜯다 (to eat grass from a pasture) · ru пасти́ (to tend cattle while grazing) · mn ᠪᠡᠯᠴᠢᠭᠡᠬᠦ (to feed or supply with grass) · es apastar (to feed or supply with grass) · it pascolare (to eat grass from a pasture) · oc apasturar (to feed or supply with grass) · de weiden lassen (to tend cattle while grazing) · fur passonâ (to tend cattle while grazing) · mr चरणे (to eat grass from a pasture) · mhr авалташ (to eat grass from a pasture) · es apacentar (to feed or supply with grass) · ta மேய் (to eat grass from a pasture) · bg паса́ (to tend cattle while grazing) · ar رَعَى (to feed or supply with grass) · fi laiduntaa (to eat grass from a pasture) · fi raapaista (to cause a slight wound to) · hu karcol (to cause a slight wound to) · fi ruokkia (to feed or supply with grass) · es pastorear (to feed or supply with grass) · mi hani (to rub or touch lightly the surface of in passing) · fr érafler (to cause a slight wound to) · is bíta gras (to eat grass from a pasture) · qu michiy (to feed or supply with grass) · mi tītongi (to eat grass from a pasture) · ro paște (to tend cattle while grazing) · he ללחכך (to eat grass from a pasture) · de grasen lassen (to tend cattle while grazing) · de touchieren (to rub or touch lightly the surface of in passing) · la pābulor (to eat grass from a pasture) · hi चराना (to tend cattle while grazing) · ota یالامق (to rub or touch lightly the surface of in passing) · ta மேய் (to feed or supply with grass) · tr çayırlamak (to eat grass from a pasture) · sk pásť sa (to eat grass from a pasture) · ru содра́ть (to cause a slight wound to) · sq kullos (to eat grass from a pasture) · gl pacer (to eat grass from a pasture) · rup pascu (to feed or supply with grass) · tr otlamak (to eat grass from a pasture) · zza qot kuwen (to tend cattle while grazing) · tr sıyırmak (to cause a slight wound to) · de abschürfen (to cause a slight wound to) · it radere (to rub or touch lightly the surface of in passing) · sh па̑сти (to feed or supply with grass) · ru пасти́сь (to eat grass from a pasture) · de grasen lassen (to feed or supply with grass) · mi wani (to rub or touch lightly the surface of in passing) · zza nequr kerden (to cause a slight wound to) · no gå på gress (to eat grass from a pasture) · uk па́стися (to eat grass from a pasture) · ca péixer (to feed or supply with grass) · ka ძოვა (to eat grass from a pasture) · ceb sibsib (to eat grass from a pasture) · mi ripi (to rub or touch lightly the surface of in passing) · az otlamaq (to eat grass from a pasture) · mi karipi (to rub or touch lightly the surface of in passing) · ka ძოვს (to eat grass from a pasture) · eo paŝti (to tend cattle while grazing) · mi miri (to rub or touch lightly the surface of in passing) · unm ntiasi (to eat grass from a pasture) · pl paść (to feed or supply with grass) · ga cuir ar féarach (to feed or supply with grass) · pt ralar (to rub or touch lightly the surface of in passing) · ga bí ar féarach (to eat grass from a pasture) · ko 방목하다 (to feed or supply with grass) · mn ᠪᠡᠯᠴᠢᠬᠦ (to eat grass from a pasture) · es campear (to eat grass from a pasture) · fr brouter (to eat grass from a pasture) · it escoriare (to cause a slight wound to) · mi honihoni (to rub or touch lightly the surface of in passing) · pt arranhar (to cause a slight wound to) · mn бэлчээх (to feed or supply with grass) · no beite (to eat grass from a pasture) · it scorticare (to cause a slight wound to) · ro păstori (to eat grass from a pasture) · hu súrol (to rub or touch lightly the surface of in passing) · cy porfelu (to feed or supply with grass) · da græsse (to eat grass from a pasture) · fr effleurer (to rub or touch lightly the surface of in passing) · de weiden lassen (to feed or supply with grass) · ru ссади́ть (to cause a slight wound to) · pt pastar (to eat grass from a pasture) · es pastear (to eat grass from a pasture) · tr otarmak (to feed or supply with grass) · fr frôler (to rub or touch lightly the surface of in passing) · bg надера́ (to cause a slight wound to) · dlm puoscro (to eat grass from a pasture) · de ankratzen (to rub or touch lightly the surface of in passing) · fi naarmuttaa (to cause a slight wound to) · ast pacer (to eat grass from a pasture) · cy pori (to eat grass from a pasture) · bg закача́ (to rub or touch lightly the surface of in passing) · ga bí ag innilt (to eat grass from a pasture) · be па́свіцца (to eat grass from a pasture) · ary سْرح (to eat grass from a pasture) · fr paître (to eat grass from a pasture) · ml മേയുക (to eat grass from a pasture) · ceb sibsib (to feed or supply with grass) · nrf paître (to eat grass from a pasture) · yi פּאַשען (to eat grass from a pasture) · de weiden (to eat grass from a pasture) · ru пасти́ (to feed or supply with grass) · zza çaran (to eat grass from a pasture) · ceb sabsab (to eat grass from a pasture) · es picar (to eat small amounts of food periodically throughout the day) · mi hārau (to rub or touch lightly the surface of in passing) · yi פּאַשען (to feed or supply with grass) · ar اِرْتَعَى (to eat grass from a pasture) · pt raspar (to rub or touch lightly the surface of in passing) · ja 草をはむ (to eat grass from a pasture) · wa paxhe (to eat grass from a pasture) · cs pást (to feed or supply with grass) · af wei (to eat grass from a pasture) · zza gaz kerden (to cause a slight wound to) · fr raser (to rub or touch lightly the surface of in passing) · mi tītongitongi (to eat grass from a pasture) · es excoriar (to rub or touch lightly the surface of in passing) · nl grazen (to eat grass from a pasture) · hy արածեցնել (to feed or supply with grass) · wa waidyî (to eat grass from a pasture) · gsw etze (to eat grass from a pasture) · lb weeden (to eat grass from a pasture) · rup pãshunedz (to tend cattle while grazing) · cmn 吃草 (to eat grass from a pasture) · cs pást se (to eat grass from a pasture) · ru цара́пать (to rub or touch lightly the surface of in passing) · la pasco (to eat grass from a pasture) · it pascere (to tend cattle while grazing) · hi चरना (to eat grass from a pasture) · mi whāngai karaehe (to feed or supply with grass) · it pascere (to eat grass from a pasture) · sv beta (to eat grass from a pasture) · wa tchampyî (to eat grass from a pasture) · cu пасти (to feed or supply with grass) · hy արածել (to eat grass from a pasture) · pt arranhar (to rub or touch lightly the surface of in passing) · bg паса́ (to eat grass from a pasture) · fr paître (to tend cattle while grazing) · es pastar (to eat grass from a pasture) · fur passonâ (to eat grass from a pasture) · af laat wei (to feed or supply with grass) · hu horzsol (to cause a slight wound to) · pt ralar (to cause a slight wound to) · hu legeltet (to feed or supply with grass) · fi paimentaa (to tend cattle while grazing) · de streifen (to rub or touch lightly the surface of in passing) · tr otarmak (to tend cattle while grazing) · wa afôrer (to feed or supply with grass) · eo paŝtiĝi (to eat grass from a pasture) · hu legel (to eat grass from a pasture) · bg нади́рам (to cause a slight wound to) · ne चराउनु (to feed or supply with grass) · bg одра́сквам (to rub or touch lightly the surface of in passing) · bg паса́ (to feed or supply with grass) · zza cı perayen (to cause a slight wound to) · mk пасе (to feed or supply with grass) · zdj ulisa (to tend cattle while grazing) · ga bí ag iníor (to eat grass from a pasture) · de ankratzen (to cause a slight wound to) · sc paschere (to eat grass from a pasture) · ru поцара́пать (to cause a slight wound to) · ro paște (to eat grass from a pasture) · el βόσκω (to feed or supply with grass) · ja 放牧する (to feed or supply with grass) · nl hoeden (to tend cattle while grazing) · zza çaraynen (to feed or supply with grass) · bg ожу́ля (to cause a slight wound to) · mi honi (to rub or touch lightly the surface of in passing) · cmn 放牧 (to feed or supply with grass) · fr grignoter (to eat small amounts of food periodically throughout the day) · fur passi (to eat grass from a pasture) · fi raapaista (to rub or touch lightly the surface of in passing) · cs škrábnout (to cause a slight wound to) · th เลี้ยง (to feed or supply with grass) · es picotear (to eat small amounts of food periodically throughout the day) · zza erobiyayen (to tend cattle while grazing) · wa sognî (to feed or supply with grass) · tr sıyırmak (to rub or touch lightly the surface of in passing) · sl pasti (to feed or supply with grass) · zdj hula (to eat grass from a pasture) · rup pãshunedz (to feed or supply with grass) · mk напасува (to tend cattle while grazing) · mk пасе (to eat grass from a pasture) · fi naarmuttaa (to rub or touch lightly the surface of in passing) · az otarmaq (to tend cattle while grazing) · el βόσκω (to eat grass from a pasture) · fur passonâ (to feed or supply with grass) · es apacentarse (to eat grass from a pasture) · mi tītongi (to eat grass from a pasture) · uk па́сти (to feed or supply with grass) · fi hipoa (to rub or touch lightly the surface of in passing) · fr faire paître (to tend cattle while grazing) · az güdmək (to tend cattle while grazing) · fur passi (to tend cattle while grazing) · ko 뜯어먹다 (to eat grass from a pasture) · el βόσκω (to tend cattle while grazing) · mk пасе (to tend cattle while grazing) · it pascolare (to feed or supply with grass) · nl begrazen (to eat grass from a pasture) · ceb sabsab (to feed or supply with grass) · es pacer (to eat grass from a pasture) · be па́свіць (to feed or supply with grass) · mn бэлчих (to eat grass from a pasture) · es pacer (to feed or supply with grass) · wa broster (to eat grass from a pasture) · rup pascu (to eat grass from a pasture)