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¹grain

noun \ˈgrān\

: the seeds of plants (such as wheat, corn, and rice) that are used for food; also : a single seed of wheat, corn, rice, etc.

: a plant that produces grain

: a small, hard piece of something

Full Definition of GRAIN

a (1) obsolete : a single small hard seed (2) : a seed or fruit of a cereal grass : caryopsis

b : the seeds or fruits of various food plants including the cereal grasses and in commercial and statutory usage other plants (as the soybean)

c : plants producing grain

a (1) : a small hard particle or crystal (2) : any of the particles produced in a photographic material by its development; also : the size of such grains in the aggregate (3) : an individual crystal in a metal

b : a minute portion or particle

c : the least amount possible <a grain of truth>

a : kermes or a scarlet dye made from it

b : cochineal or a brilliant scarlet dye made from it

c : a fast dye

d archaic : color, tint

a : a granulated surface or appearance

b : the outer or hair side of a skin or hide

: a unit of weight based on the weight of a grain of wheat taken as an average of the weight of grains from the middle of the ear — see weight table

a : the stratification of the wood fibers in a piece of wood

b : a texture due to constituent particles or fibers <the grain of a rock>

c : the direction of threads in cloth

: tactile quality

a : natural disposition : temper <lying goes against my grain>

b : a basic or characteristic quality

c : a prevalent ideology or convention <teaching against the grain>

— grained \ˈgrānd\ adjective

— grain·less adjective

See grain defined for English-language learners

See grain defined for kids

Origin of GRAIN

Middle English, partly from Anglo-French grain cereal grain, from Latin granum; partly from Anglo-French graine seed, kermes, from Latin grana, plural of granum — more at corn

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to GRAIN

Synonyms: atom, crumb, dribble, fleck, flyspeck, bit, granule, molecule, morsel, mote, nubbin, nugget, particle, patch, scrap, scruple, snip, snippet, speck, tittle

Other Seed Plant Terms

aubergine, box, bramble, briar, composite, perpetual, pulse, trefoil

²grain

verb

Definition of GRAIN

transitive verb

: ingrain

: to form into grains : granulate

: to paint in imitation of the grain of wood or stone

: to feed with grain

intransitive verb

: to become granular : granulate

— grain·er noun

First Known Use of GRAIN

1530

GRAIN Defined for Kids

grain

noun \ˈgrān\

Definition of GRAIN for Kids

: the edible seed or seeds of some grasses (as wheat, corn, or oats) or a few other plants (as buckwheat)

: plants that produce grain

: a small hard particle <a grain of sand>

: a tiny amount <a grain of truth>

: a unit of weight equal to 0.0648 gram

: the arrangement of fibers in wood

— grained \ˈgrānd\ adjective

Medical Dictionary

grain

noun \ˈgrān\

Medical Definition of GRAIN

a : a seed or fruit of a cereal grass b : the seeds or fruits of various food plants including the cereal grasses and in commercial and statutory usage other plants (as the soybean) c : plants producing grain

: a small hard particle or crystal (as of sand or salt)

: a unit of avoirdupois, Troy, and apothecaries' weight equal to 0.0648 gram or 0.002286 avoirdupois ounce or 0.002083 Troy ounce—abbreviation gr