rye
n. C / U B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈɹaɪ// UK //ɹˈaɪ// rye
n. a type of grain used to make flour, bread, and some types of alcohol. It is similar to wheat but usually produces a darker, heavier bread.
n. a hardy cereal grass (Secale cereale) widely grown for its grain and as a cover crop. The grain is used for flour, livestock feed, and the distillation of whiskey.
I prefer the taste of toasted rye bread.
The baker specializes in traditional sourdough loaves made with a blend of organic rye and wheat flour.
Because rye thrives in poor soil and cold climates where wheat often fails, it became a staple crop across much of Northern and Eastern Europe during the Middle Ages.
Usage
Uncountable when referring to the crop or the grain as a mass; countable when referring to specific varieties or types of the plant.