grain
grayn
Grain (noun) means the edible seeds of cereal crops such as wheat, corn, rice, or barley, or the crops that produce them. Example: “The ship carried grain from the farms to the hungry cities across the sea.”
noun
1
The edible seeds of cereal crops such as wheat, corn, rice, or barley, or the crops that produce them.
"The ship carried grain from the farms to the hungry cities across the sea."
"Farmers hauled in the year's grain harvest before the storm hit."
"This bread is made with whole grains."
2
A single small hard particle, such as a grain of sand or salt.
"Not a grain of salt was left in the shaker."
"The sand felt rough, and every grain seemed to cling to my skin."
"A grain of sand got stuck in her shoe."
3
The natural pattern of lines or texture in wood, stone, or other materials.
"The grain in this oak panel runs in long, straight lines."
"Marble has a fine grain that makes it good for carving."
"He sanded the table along the grain of the wood."
4
A very small unit of weight, historically based on the weight of a grain of wheat.
"An old pharmacist's scale could weigh medicines down to a single grain."
"In the old recipe book, the weight of the powder was given in grains."
"Gunpowder charges are sometimes still measured in grains."
How to use grain
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA seed of a cereal crop, a tiny particle of something, or the texture pattern in wood and similar materials.
Common mistake
"Against the grain" is a common idiom meaning to go against the natural or expected direction of something.
Common pairings
whole grain
grain of sand
against the grain
grain of truth
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Word forms
- Plural
- grains
- Third person singular
- grains
- Past tense
- grained
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The ship carried _____ from the farms to the hungry cities across the sea.
Etymology
From Old French grain, from Latin granum ("seed"), the same root behind "corn" and "granule."
Related words
Rhymes for grain
See all rhymes for grain →Frequently asked questions
What does “grain” mean?
The word “grain” means the edible seeds of cereal crops such as wheat, corn, rice, or barley, or the crops that produce them. In plain terms, a seed of a cereal crop, a tiny particle of something, or the texture pattern in wood and similar materials.
How do you pronounce “grain”?
“Grain” is pronounced grayn (/ɡɹeɪn/ in IPA).
How do you use “grain” in a sentence?
Here is “grain” used in a sentence: “Farmers hauled in the year's grain harvest before the storm hit.”
What part of speech is “grain”?
“Grain” is a noun.
Where does the word “grain” come from?
The word “grain” comes from Latin. From Old French grain, from Latin granum ("seed"), the same root behind "corn" and "granule.".
Is “grain” a common word?
“Grain” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “grain” have?
“Grain” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the edible seeds of cereal crops such as wheat, corn, rice, or barley, or the crops that produce them.
What is the difference between "grain" and "grains"?
"Grain" as a mass noun refers to cereal crops or their seeds collectively, as in "a field of grain," while "grains" as a count noun refers to individual particles or separate types, as in "grains of sand" or "whole grains." The uncountable use covers the harvest in general; the countable use singles out discrete units.
What is the difference between "grain" and "cereal"?
"Grain" refers to the edible seeds themselves, such as wheat, rice, or barley, while "cereal" refers to the crop plants that produce those seeds or to a breakfast food made from them. The grains from these plants are cereals, but the two words are not always interchangeable.
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