Main Entry: ¹grain

Pronunciation: \ˈgrān\

Function: noun

Etymology: 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

Date: 14th century

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 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 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