cereal
SEER-rih-uhl
Cereal (noun) means a grass grown and harvested for its edible grain, such as wheat, rice, or oats. Example: “Farmers in the region grow cereal crops like barley and wheat.”
noun
1
A grass grown and harvested for its edible grain, such as wheat, rice, or oats.
"Farmers in the region grow cereal crops like barley and wheat."
"Oats are a cereal that thrives in cool, damp climates."
"The cereal harvest began once the fields turned golden."
2
A breakfast food made from processed grain, usually eaten with milk.
"He had a bowl of cereal before school."
"Do we have any cereal left, or shall I buy more?"
"She poured milk over her cereal and sat down to eat."
How to use cereal
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a grain crop like wheat or oats, or the breakfast food made from grain.
Common mistake
Don't confuse "cereal" with "serial" (a series of connected episodes) — they sound identical but mean very different things.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
breakfast cereal
cereal crop
bowl of cereal
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Word forms
- Plural
- cereals
- Comparative
- more Cereal
- Superlative
- most Cereal
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Farmers in the region grow _____ crops like barley and wheat.
Etymology
From Latin Cerealis ("of Ceres"), the Roman goddess of agriculture and grain.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for cereal
See all rhymes for cereal →Frequently asked questions
What does “cereal” mean?
The word “cereal” means a grass grown and harvested for its edible grain, such as wheat, rice, or oats. In plain terms, either a grain crop like wheat or oats, or the breakfast food made from grain.
How do you pronounce “cereal”?
“Cereal” is pronounced SEER-rih-uhl (/ˈsɪə.ɹɪ.əl/ in IPA).
How do you use “cereal” in a sentence?
Here is “cereal” used in a sentence: “Farmers in the region grow cereal crops like barley and wheat.”
What part of speech is “cereal”?
“Cereal” is a noun.
Where does the word “cereal” come from?
The word “cereal” comes from Latin. From Latin Cerealis ("of Ceres"), the Roman goddess of agriculture and grain.
Is “cereal” a common word?
“Cereal” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “cereal” have?
“Cereal” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a grass grown and harvested for its edible grain, such as wheat, rice, or oats.
What is the difference between cereal and serial?
Cereal and serial are homophones with unrelated meanings. Cereal refers to a grain crop like wheat or oats, or the breakfast food made from it, while serial describes something arranged in a sequence, such as a serial number or a TV serial.
What is the difference between a cereal and a grain?
Cereal specifically refers to a cultivated grass grown for its edible grain, such as wheat, rice, or oats. Grain is a broader term that can refer to the harvested seeds of these plants generally.
Does cereal always mean breakfast food?
No. Cereal has two related senses: the grain crop itself, such as wheat or rice grown in a field, and the processed breakfast food typically eaten with milk.
