grain

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

Examples of grain in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Even the coarsest topsoil, something that would be magical in a vegetable garden, is way to fine-grained to adequately drain if used in a container. —Paul Cappiello, Louisville Courier Journal, 17 Apr. 2026

What’s more is the Calibre 3098—derived from the extra-thin 9-line Calibre 3090 (AP’s first movement developed and manufactured in-house in 1999)—follows the shape of the case and features bridges grained by hand. —Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 14 Apr. 2026

Some may find this a bit too fine-grained, overly implicated in language’s self-enfolding folds. —Katie Kadue, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026

In the cloud services market, 2026 is likely to be a year of nuance and divergences, as the influence of AI on the cloud services and infrastructure markets becomes more fine-grained. —R. Scott Raynovich, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

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
• whole grain

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

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