grains
n. countablen. small, hard seeds from plants like wheat, rice, or corn that people use for food. You can also use this word to describe tiny, hard pieces of something like sand or salt.
n. the small, hard seeds of cereal plants such as wheat, maize, or rye, harvested for human or animal consumption. Also refers to minute, discrete particles of a substance like sand, wood, or stone.
Whole grains are an important part of a healthy diet.
The farmer harvested several tons of various grains, including barley and oats, before the heavy rains began.
The geologist examined the individual grains of quartz under a microscope to determine the sedimentary history of the rock formation.
See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.
Often used in the plural when referring to food crops or bulk materials; the singular form typically refers to a single seed or particle.