quadriller

to grid

verb kah-dree-YEH Rare

Also means

to comb (an area)

Usage Note

Quadriller means to divide into a grid pattern, used in drawing and cartography, but its most common modern sense is for police or military forces to saturate and control an area systematically (quadriller un quartier). The related noun quadrillage refers to the grid pattern or the cordon operation.

Examples

"La police a quadrillé tout le quartier."

Natural Translation

The police combed the entire neighbourhood.

Literal Translation

The police gridded all the neighbourhood.

Related Words

Explore French by topic

FrenchNow

French Café Culture: How to Order Like a Local

In a French café, un café means espresso, one drink rents the table for an hour, and you must ask for the bill. Order coffee like a local with these phrases.

June 4, 2026 7 min read

FrenchNow

French Noun Gender: Rules to Guess Right 80%

Guess French noun gender right 80% of the time using word endings: -age, -ment, -eau are masculine; -tion, -té, -ette are feminine. A high-yield system.

June 3, 2026 5 min read

FrenchNow

Tu vs Vous: When to Use Each in French

Tu vs vous in French: use tu for one friend, family, or child, and vous for strangers, elders, your boss, and any group. A clear etiquette guide.

June 3, 2026 6 min read

FrenchNow

French Numbers 70, 80, 90 Made Simple

French numbers 70, 80, 90 are soixante-dix, quatre-vingts, and quatre-vingt-dix. Learn three build formulas to make any number 70-99 on the fly.

June 3, 2026 5 min read