A grater is a kitchen tool used to shred and grate food items into small pieces, such as cheese, vegetables, and fruits. It consists of a handle attached to a metal or plastic frame with a series of sharp, serrated edges or pressed holes. There are several types of graters, including box graters, flat graters, and rotary graters, each designed for specific tasks and food items. The blade size and shape vary depending on the desired size of the grated pieces. Graters can also be used for zesting citrus fruits and grating nutmeg or ginger.