noun
awn
AWN
Awn (noun) means a thin, bristle-like growth found on the seed heads of grasses such as barley and oats. Example: “The awn on the barley ear caught in her sleeve.”
noun
1
A thin, bristle-like growth found on the seed heads of grasses such as barley and oats.
"The awn on the barley ear caught in her sleeve."
"Awns can work their way into an animal's skin if not removed."
"Botanists use the length of the awn to identify grass species."
How to use awn
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe bristly hair-like bit sticking out of grass seeds like barley.
When to use it
It's a specialist botanical term, not used in everyday conversation.
Common pairings
barley awn
length of the awn
awn of a grass seed
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The _____ on the barley ear caught in her sleeve.
Etymology
Awn was inherited through Middle English from Old Norse, ultimately from a very old root meaning chaff, and is related to a wider Germanic family of words for husk-like plant parts.
Synonyms
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arista
Rhymes for awn
See all rhymes for awn →Frequently asked questions
What is an awn on a plant?
It's the thin, bristly appendage found on the seed heads of grasses like barley and oats.
What is another word for awn?
In botany, the same structure is also called an arista.
Which plants have awns?
Grasses such as barley and oats commonly have them, along with other plants that grow similar bristlelike appendages.
What is the meaning of awn?
"awn" (noun) means a thin, bristle-like growth found on the seed heads of grasses such as barley and oats.
