graze

== English == === Etymology === 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. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ɡɹeɪz/ Homophones: grays, greys Rhymes: -eɪz === Noun === graze (plural grazes) The act of grazing; a scratching or injuring lightly on passing. A light abrasion; a slight scratch. The act of animals feeding from pasture. ==== Translations ==== === Verb === graze (third-person singular simple present grazes, present participle grazing, simple past and past participle grazed) (transitive) To feed or supply (cattle, sheep, etc.) with grass; to furnish pasture for. (ambitransitive) To feed on; to eat (growing herbage); to eat grass from (a pasture) (transitive) To tend (cattle, etc.) while grazing. (intransitive) To eat small amounts of food periodically throughout the day, rather than at fixed mealtimes, often not in response to hunger. Coordinate term: snack To shoplift by consuming food or drink items before reaching the checkout. (transitive) To rub or touch lightly the surface of (a thing) in passing. Synonym: glance (transitive) To cause a slight wound to; to scratch. (intransitive) To yield grass for grazing. ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === Anagrams === Garzê, Zager, gazer == Dutch == === Verb === graze (dated or formal) singular present subjunctive of grazen