graz´ing|ly

graze¹ «grayz», verb, grazed, graz|ing, noun.

–v.i.

1. to feed on growing grass and other herbage. Cattle, sheep, and horses graze. »

Cattle were grazing in the field. The…horses were turned out to graze (Washington Irving).

2. to pasture cattle, sheep, or other farm animals.

–v.t.

1. to put (cattle, sheep, or other farm animals) to feed on growing grass or a pasture: »

The farmer grazed his sheep. Participating farmers would be forbidden even to graze cattle on any land put in the “acreage reserve” (Newsweek).

2. to tend or look after (cattle, sheep, or other farm animals) while they are grazing: »

When Jacob grazed his Uncle Laban's sheep (Shakespeare).

3. to put cattle to feed on (grass or land): »

You may graze the ground, when the trees are grown up (Samuel Johnson).

4. Archaic. to feed on or eat (growing grass or herbage): »

Flocks Grazing the tender herb (Milton).

–n.

the act of grazing or feeding on grass.

╂[Old English grasian < unrecorded gras; later græs grass]

–graz´a|ble,

–graze´a|ble, adjective.

–graz´er, noun.

graze² «grayz», verb, grazed, graz|ing, noun.

–v.t.

1. to touch lightly in passing; rub lightly: »

The car grazed the garage door.

SYNONYM(S): brush.

2. to scrape the skin from: »

The bullet grazed his shoulder.

SYNONYM(S): abrade.

–v.i.

to touch or rub something lightly in passing.

–n.

1. the act of grazing.

2. a slight wound made by grazing.

╂[origin uncertain]

–graz´er, noun.

–graz´ing|ly, adverb.