grain

1 of 2

noun

1
a(1)
obsolete : a single small hard seed
(2)
: a seed or fruit of a cereal grass : caryopsis
b
: the seeds or fruits of various food plants including the cereal grasses and in commercial and statutory usage other plants (such as the soybean)
c
: plants producing grain
2
a(1)
: a small hard particle or crystal
(2)
: any of the particles produced in a photographic material by its development
also : the size of such grains in the aggregate
(3)
: an individual crystal in a metal
b
: a minute portion or particle
c
: the least amount possible
a grain of truth
3
a
: kermes or a scarlet dye made from it
b
: cochineal or a brilliant scarlet dye made from it
c
: a fast dye
d
archaic : color, tint
4
a
: a granulated surface or appearance
b
: the outer or hair side of a skin or hide
5
: a unit of weight based on the weight of a grain of wheat taken as an average of the weight of grains from the middle of the ear see Weights and Measures Table
6
a
: the stratification of the wood fibers in a piece of wood
b
: a texture due to constituent particles or fibers
the grain of a rock
c
: the direction of threads in cloth
7
: tactile quality
8
a
: natural disposition : temper
lying goes against my grain
b
: a basic or characteristic quality
c
: a prevalent ideology or convention
teaching against the grain
grained adjective
grainless adjective

grain

2 of 2

verb

grained; graining; grains

transitive verb

1
2
: to form into grains : granulate
3
: to paint in imitation of the grain of wood or stone
4
: to feed with grain

intransitive verb

: to become granular : granulate
grainer noun

Examples of grain in a Sentence

Noun bread made from whole wheat grain The machine grinds grain into flour. The farm grows a variety of grains. Anyone with a grain of sense knows that she's lying. There is not a grain of truth in what he said.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Filling your plate with whole grains, fruits, protein, and healthy fats—including eggs, yogurt, or whole-wheat toast—is generally considered a nutritious breakfast. Kristen Fischer, Health, 20 Nov. 2024 The company is actively involved in expanding its camelina grain production operations, with contracts for more than 40,000 acres in North America and 60,000 acres in Argentina. Quartz Bot, Quartz, 14 Nov. 2024
Verb
Bridgework and components can be frosted, grained, or mirror-polished. Carol Besler, Robb Report, 23 Oct. 2024 The Polestar interior also has grained ash wood trim. Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press, 23 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for grain 

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, partly from Anglo-French grain cereal grain, from Latin granum; partly from Anglo-French graine seed, kermes, from Latin grana, plural of granum — more at corn

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Verb

1530, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of grain was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near grain

Cite this Entry

“Grain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grain. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

grain

1 of 2 noun
1
a
: the edible seed or seedlike fruit of grasses that are cereals (as wheat, corn, or oats)
b
: the threshed seed or fruits of various food plants (as cereal grasses, flax, peas, or sugarcane)
c
: plants producing grain
2
a
: a small hard particle
a grain of sand
b
: the least amount possible
a grain of truth
3
: a unit of weight based on the weight of a grain of wheat see measure
4
a
: the arrangement of fibers in wood
b
: appearance or feel due to the particles or fibers of which something is composed
the grain of a rock
c
: the direction of threads in cloth
5
: natural disposition : temper
making excuses goes against my grain
grained adjective
grainy
ˈgrā-nē
adjective

grain

2 of 2 verb
1
: to form into grains : granulate
2
: to paint in imitation of the grain of wood or stone
grainer noun
Etymology

Noun

Middle English grain, grein "kernel, seed," from early French grain "cereal plant" and early French graine "seed," both derived from Latin granum "grain, seed" — related to garnet, grenade, pomegranate see Word History at garnet

Medical Definition

grain

noun
1
a
: a seed or fruit of a cereal grass
b
: the seeds or fruits of various food plants including the cereal grasses and in commercial and statutory usage other plants (as the soybean)
c
: plants producing grain
2
: a small hard particle or crystal (as of sand or salt)
3
: a unit of avoirdupois, Troy, and apothecaries' weight equal to 0.0648 gram or 0.002286 avoirdupois ounce or 0.002083 Troy ounce
abbreviation gr

More from Merriam-Webster on grain

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