grain

1 of 2

noun

ˈgrān 

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

ˈgrānd 

adjective

grainless adjective

grain

2 of 2

verb

grained; graining; grains

transitive verb

1

: ingrain

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

Synonyms

Noun

• speck
• fleck
• particle
• bit
• scrap
• patch
• crumb
• shred
• sliver
• mouthful
• granule
• molecule

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

Agricultural products, including grain, vegetable oils, and seeds, were rerouted via neighboring countries, which became critical export corridors. —Lidia Kurasinska, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025

Azelaic acid is not an AHA or BHA, but a dicarboxylic acid, and naturally occurs in grains. —Emily Orofino, Vogue, 29 June 2025

Verb

Kefir grains composition: Kefir grains are gel-like substances made from lactic acid bacteria, yeast, acetic acid bacteria, and polysaccharides (a type of carbohydrate). —Melissa Nieves, Verywell Health, 11 June 2025

Wood is inherently pleasing: complex, grained, satisfying to touch, and gratifying to smell. —Justin Davidson, Curbed, 8 Jan. 2025

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

Phrases Containing grain

• against the grain
• edge-grain
• go against someone's grain
• go against the grain
• grain alcohol
• grain bowl
• grain elevator
• grain of salt
• grain sorghum
• pollen grain
• take (something) with a grain/pinch of salt

Rhymes for grain

• ane
• bane
• blain
• brain
• cane
• chaine
• cheyne
• deign
• drain
• fain
• fane
• feign

Kids Definition

grain

1 of 2 noun

ˈgrān 

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

ˈgrānd 

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

ˈgrān 

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