millet

noun

mil·​let ˈmi-lət 

1

: any of various small-seeded annual cereal and forage grasses:

a

: a Eurasian grass (Panicum miliaceum) cultivated for its grain which is used for food

b

: any of several grasses related to common millet

2

: the seed of a millet

Examples of millet in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Many of these, such as okra, millets, and pigeon peas, have historically been overlooked and under harvested. —Daniela De Lorenzo, Forbes, 23 Oct. 2024

And whole grains: brown rice, quinoa, millet, beans. —Jason Pham, StyleCaster, 16 Sep. 2024

Today, most baijiu is distilled from sorghum, but wheat, rice, corn, and millet can also be used. —Clara Wang, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Aug. 2024

Zimmerman says this time of year is great for foliage, too, like nasturtium and love-in-a-puff vines, grasses (think millet, oats, and miscanthus, or silvergrass), and seed pods such as poppies and wisteria. —Blake Bakkila, Sunset Magazine, 23 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English milet, from Middle French, from Old French, diminutive of mil, from Latin milium; akin to Greek melinē millet

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing millet

• foxtail millet
• Japanese millet
• pearl millet

Kids Definition

millet

noun

mil·​let ˈmil-ət 

1

: a grass cultivated for its small shiny whitish seeds used as human and bird food and sometimes grown for hay

2

: the seed of a millet

Biographical Definition

Millet

biographical name

Mil·​let mē-ˈyā 

mi-ˈlā

Jean-François 1814–1875 French painter