grain

1 of 2

noun

1
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 (such as the soybean)
c
: plants producing grain
2
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
3
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
4
a
: a granulated surface or appearance
b
: the outer or hair side of a skin or hide
5
: 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 Weights and Measures Table
6
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
7
: tactile quality
8
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 adjective
grainless adjective

grain

2 of 2

verb

grained; graining; grains

transitive verb

1
2
: to form into grains : granulate
3
: to paint in imitation of the grain of wood or stone
4
: to feed with grain

intransitive verb

: to become granular : granulate
grainer noun

Examples of grain in a Sentence

Noun bread made from whole wheat grain The machine grinds grain into flour. The farm grows a variety of grains. Anyone with a grain of sense knows that she's lying. There is not a grain of truth in what he said.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The company refers to the operation as a biorefinery, reflecting its beyond-ethanol focus on clean-energy products and other marketable grain biproducts. Karl Ebert, Journal Sentinel, 12 Mar. 2024 So here’s what happened: Westward Whiskey, a small craft operation that’s been making single malt in Portland, Oregon for about 20 years, received the wrong type of barley in a grain delivery. Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 10 Mar. 2024 Most visually striking are Isabella Whitfield’s meticulous layouts of individual rice grains, placed in rows fixed by plaster and clay inside large flat bowls that are mounted on the wall. Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024 Clean wooden tables are decorated with little more than the varied shades of brown of their own wood grain and delicate arrangements of wildflowers. Detroit Free Press, 6 Mar. 2024 Robert Wayne Smith was helping unload soybeans in a bin while running a grain vacuum on March 4, according to a news release from the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office. Jennifer Rodriguez, Kansas City Star, 6 Mar. 2024 Using radar scans and analysis of sand grains buried deep inside the star dune, scientists mapped the mound’s internal structure. Mindy Weisberger, CNN, 4 Mar. 2024 The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends making half of your daily grain intake whole grains. Hannah Yasharoff, USA TODAY, 4 Mar. 2024 Many families have begun mixing animal and bird food with grain to bake bread. Wafaa Shurafa and Samy Magdy The Associated Press, arkansasonline.com, 3 Mar. 2024
Verb
The teak across the main deck was richly grained, with snug joinery. Kevin Koenig, Robb Report, 5 Mar. 2024 Clients have the opportunity to select their preferred color and type of leather, ranging from standards like smoothed or grained calfskin, cordovan, or suede, as well as Suzuki’s enviable selection of exotic skins including crocodile, lizard, and ostrich. Eric Twardzik, Robb Report, 31 Jan. 2024 The interior woodwork was richly grained and snugly fit, the doors were satisfyingly heavy, and the drawers closed softly, with no rattling. Kevin Koenig, Robb Report, 15 Nov. 2023 The rest of the space, which includes his and hers vanities, is minimalist and serene, with lavender veined marble and naturally grained wood. Jessica Cherner, House Beautiful, 8 Mar. 2023 Modifications to the hand-wound caliber 2956 dial include the openworking of the bridges at four and six o’clock, removal of the railway track and a change from a circular graining decoration in favor of the satin finish and traits tirés beveling on the upper components. Carol Besler, Robb Report, 27 Feb. 2023 However, most dogs with skin allergies are not allergic to grain itself. Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 23 Oct. 2022 White Ash features more subtle graining while Black Ash has a dark grain that contrasts with its light background. Hadley Keller, House Beautiful, 13 Mar. 2020 The cereal grains mixed with clover attract deer first while the brassicas stand tall and are accessible above snow in northern areas for late-season forage. Gerald Almy, Field & Stream, 14 Feb. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'grain.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

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

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Verb

1530, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of grain was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near grain

Cite this Entry

“Grain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grain. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

grain

1 of 2 noun
1
a
: the edible seed or seedlike fruit of grasses that are cereals (as wheat, corn, or oats)
b
: the threshed seed or fruits of various food plants (as cereal grasses, flax, peas, or sugarcane)
c
: plants producing grain
2
a
: a small hard particle
a grain of sand
b
: the least amount possible
a grain of truth
3
: a unit of weight based on the weight of a grain of wheat see measure
4
a
: the arrangement of fibers in wood
b
: appearance or feel due to the particles or fibers of which something is composed
the grain of a rock
c
: the direction of threads in cloth
5
: natural disposition : temper
making excuses goes against my grain
grained adjective
grainy
ˈgrā-nē
adjective

grain

2 of 2 verb
1
: to form into grains : granulate
2
: to paint in imitation of the grain of wood or stone
grainer noun
Etymology

Noun

Middle English grain, grein "kernel, seed," from early French grain "cereal plant" and early French graine "seed," both derived from Latin granum "grain, seed" — related to garnet, grenade, pomegranate see Word History at garnet

Medical Definition

grain

noun
1
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
2
: a small hard particle or crystal (as of sand or salt)
3
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on grain

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