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wheat

n. · adj.
US //ˈhwit// UK //wˈiːt// wheat
  1. 1 the cereal grain (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    a plant or its seeds used to make flour for bread and other foods.

    the grain of a cereal grass used as a primary source of flour for baking and food production.

    Example

    The farmer spent the whole week harvesting the wheat in the big field.

    Example

    Global wheat prices fluctuated significantly following reports of a severe drought affecting the major growing regions in the Midwest.

    Usage

    uncountable when referring to the crop or the grain in bulk; countable when referring to specific botanical varieties.
  2. 2 wheat bread (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate American English Cooking

    a shorter way to say 'wheat bread' or 'whole wheat bread'.

    an elliptical reference to bread made from wheat flour, specifically whole-wheat or brown bread in American English.

    Example

    I would like a turkey sandwich on wheat, please.

    Example

    The deli offers a choice of sourdough, rye, or wheat for all their signature sandwiches.
    • wholemeal
    • brown bread
    • white bread
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  1. 3 the colour (adj.)
    C1 Advanced Literary

    having a light, yellowish-brown colour like ripe grain.

    denoting a pale, brownish-yellow colour resembling the hue of ripened wheat stalks.

    Example

    She chose a wheat-coloured carpet to match the natural wood furniture.

    Example

    The interior designer recommended a wheat palette for the upholstery to maintain a warm, organic atmosphere in the living area.
    • tan
    • pale gold
    • straw coloured
Origin

From Middle English whete, from Old English hwǣte, from Proto-West Germanic hwaitī, from Proto-Germanic hwaitijaz (compare West Frisian weet, Dutch weit, Low German Weten, German Weizen, Danish hvede, Swedish vete, Norwegian Nynorsk kveite, Icelandic hveiti), from *hwītaz (“white”). More at white.

Idioms2 entries

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