First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
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
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 (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
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 weight 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 \ˈgrānd\ adjective
— grain·less adjective
See grain defined for English-language learners
See grain defined for kids
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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
Related to GRAIN
2grain
verb
Definition of GRAIN
transitive verb
1
: ingrain
3
: to paint in imitation of the grain of wood or stone
4
: 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
1
: the edible seed or seeds of some grasses (as wheat, corn, or oats) or a few other plants (as buckwheat)
2
: plants that produce grain
3
: a small hard particle <a grain of sand>
4
: a tiny amount <a grain of truth>
5
: a unit of weight equal to 0.0648 gram
6
: the arrangement of fibers in wood
— grained \ˈgrānd\ adjective
Medical Dictionary
grain
noun \ˈgrān\
Medical Definition of GRAIN
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
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