Job's tears

plural noun

1
: hard usually pearly white seeds of a tropical southeast Asian grass (Coix lacryma-jobi) often used as beads
2
singular in construction : the grass producing Job's tears

Illustration of Job's tears

Illustration of job's tears
  • Job's tears 2

Examples of Job's tears in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The ancient recipe for beer included broomcorn millet, barley, Job's tears (a type of grain-bearing plant native to south-east Asia), and tubers. Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 23 May 2016

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

Word History

First Known Use

1597, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Job's tears was in 1597

Dictionary Entries Near Job's tears

Cite this Entry

“Job's tears.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Job%27s%20tears. Accessed 4 Oct. 2024.

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