grout
GROWT
/ /ˈɡraʊt/
A thin, fluid mortar used to fill the narrow spaces between wall or floor tiles, securing them in place and sealing the joints.
Grout is cement-based and cures into a hard, rigid, and slightly porous structure, unlike flexible caulk.
The story behind the word. Grout comes from the Old English 'grūt', which meant 'coarse meal' or 'dregs'. This refers to the gritty, coarse texture of the sand and cement mixture used to create the mortar.
Word relationships
- mortar: Mortar is a thicker mixture used to bond bricks or stone blocks together, whereas grout is thinner and designed to fill narrow gaps between pre-laid tiles.
Commonly confused with
- caulk: Grout is rigid and cement-like, used between tiles on a flat plane, while caulk is flexible and rubbery, used where surfaces meet at an angle.
Word family
- grouted (adjective): filled or secured with grout
- grouting (noun): the material or process of applying grout
Collocations
- tile grout
- epoxy grout
- apply grout
- grout line
Example sentences
- "After laying the ceramic tiles, we let the adhesive dry overnight before applying the gray grout between the joints." Tiling a kitchen floor
- "The old grout in the shower had begun to crumble, allowing water to seep behind the tiles and cause damage." Home maintenance
Memory hook
Think of 'grout' as 'ground-up' stone packed tightly between your tiles. Grout fills the ground between tiles.
When not to use
Do not use grout to seal moving joints, such as the corner where a bathtub meets a wall, as it will crack.
Fun facts
- Modern epoxy grouts are completely waterproof and stain-resistant, unlike traditional cement grouts which must be sealed to prevent water absorption.
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