Grid

Podcast 1 · Introduction

Grid

A documentary-style narration: origin, meaning, and feel.

Part of speech

noun and verb

Pronunciation

grid  /ɡrɪd/

Definition

As a noun: a network of horizontal and vertical lines; an electricity transmission network; a framework of parallel lines used for reference in maps; the starting positions in motor racing. As a verb: to put a grid over; to connect to an electricity grid.

Plain meaning

A grid is any network of crossing lines — from graph paper through city street layouts through the national electricity network. In motor racing, the grid is the formation of cars at the start of a race.

Register

Neutral and technical across various domains. The electricity grid is standard infrastructure vocabulary. Grid in design and typography is technical. The grid system in urban planning — the rectilinear street layout of cities like Manhattan and Chicago — is a specific and much-discussed design pattern.