¹cereal

adjective ce·re·al \ˈsir-ē-əl\

Definition of CEREAL

: relating to grain or to the plants that produce it; also : made of grain

See cereal defined for kids

Origin of CEREAL

French or Latin; French céréale, from Latin cerealis of Ceres, of grain, from Ceres

First Known Use: 1818

Rhymes with CEREAL

aerial, ferial, serial

²cereal

noun

: a plant (such as a grass) that produces grain that can be eaten

: a breakfast food made from grain

Full Definition of CEREAL

: a plant (as a grass) yielding starchy grain suitable for food; also : its grain

: a prepared foodstuff of grain (as oatmeal or cornflakes)

See cereal defined for English-language learners

First Known Use of CEREAL

1832

Other Food Terms

Reuben, calamari, chuck, curry, edamame, foie gras, hummus, leaven, nonpareil, peel

CEREAL Defined for Kids

cereal

noun ce·re·al \ˈsir-ē-əl\

Definition of CEREAL for Kids

: a plant (as a grass) that produces grain for food

: a food prepared from grain <breakfast cereals>

Word History of CEREAL

In Roman mythology Ceres was the goddess of agriculture. A Latin word Cerealis, “of Ceres,” was formed from her name. Since Ceres was in charge of grain and grain plants, Cerealis came to mean “of grain” as well. The English word cereal came from this Latin word.