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

Italy’s farmers are also diversifying and rotating their crops more, opting for sorghum and millet, instead of maize, for example, which helps replenish soil nutrients while also needing less water. —Indrabati Lahiri, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024

Rounding out the ingredient list are oats, millet, and amaranth; sesame, flax, and chia seeds; honey, coconut sugar, and olive oil. —Kate Kassin, Bon Appétit, 6 Nov. 2024

Fill the feeder with black oil sunflower seeds rather than mixed bird seeds that contain smaller seeds like millet and milo. —Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 1 Nov. 2024

Include grains such as quinoa, barley, and millet in your meals. —Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 4 Nov. 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