noun
Uncommon
grains
graynz
Grains (noun) means Small hard seeds from cereal plants (such as wheat, rice, or barley), especially as harvested for food. Example: “The silo was filled with grains ready for milling.”
noun
1
Small hard seeds from cereal plants (such as wheat, rice, or barley), especially as harvested for food.
"The silo was filled with grains ready for milling."
"A healthy diet includes plenty of whole grains."
"Farmers stored the grains in dry barns until the winter."
2
Tiny particles resembling seeds, such as grains of sand or salt.
"A few grains of sand had worked their way into her shoe."
"Tiny grains of salt gathered at the bottom of the shaker."
"He brushed the grains of sugar off the kitchen table."
3
A tanning-industry term for dried pigeon or bird droppings once used to soften leather hides.
"Old tanning manuals describe soaking hides in grains before finishing them."
How to use grains
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSmall particles — usually the seeds of cereal crops, but also used for tiny bits of anything granular like sand.
Common pairings
whole grains
grains of sand
grains of rice
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The silo was filled with _____ ready for milling.
Etymology
See the etymology at the corresponding lemma form.
Synonyms
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cereals
kernels
particles
granules
Related words
Rhymes for grains
See all rhymes for grains →Frequently asked questions
What does “grains” mean?
The word “grains” means small hard seeds from cereal plants (such as wheat, rice, or barley), especially as harvested for food. In plain terms, small particles — usually the seeds of cereal crops, but also used for tiny bits of anything granular like sand.
How do you pronounce “grains”?
“Grains” is pronounced graynz (/ɡɹeɪnz/ in IPA).
How do you use “grains” in a sentence?
Here is “grains” used in a sentence: “The silo was filled with grains ready for milling.”
What part of speech is “grains”?
“Grains” is a noun.
Is “grains” a common word?
“Grains” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “grains” have?
“Grains” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: small hard seeds from cereal plants (such as wheat, rice, or barley), especially as harvested for food.
What is the difference between 'grain' and 'grains'?
"Grain" can refer to cereal crops collectively as an uncountable noun, such as "a field of grain," while "grains" is the plural form used for counting individual seeds or particles, as in "a few grains of rice" or "grains of sand." Both share the same core meaning but differ in countability.
What is the difference between whole grains and refined grains?
Whole grains keep all parts of the cereal seed intact, while refined grains have parts removed during processing, changing their nutritional content. Since grains refers broadly to the small hard seeds from cereal plants such as wheat, rice, or barley, this distinction concerns how those seeds are processed, not the botanical definition itself.
Why are grains sometimes used in leather tanning?
In the tanning industry, "grains" refers specifically to dried pigeon or bird droppings once used to soften leather hides, a specialized historical usage distinct from the common food or particle senses. This term reflects an older craft process rather than modern tanning methods.
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