grain
♦ grain /gr'eɪn/ (grains)
1 [N-COUNT] usu with supp
A grain of wheat, rice, or other cereal crop is a seed from it.
...a grain of wheat.
...rice grains.
2 [N-MASS]
Grain is a cereal crop, especially wheat or corn, that has been harvested and is used for food or in trade.
...a bag of grain.
...the best grains.
3 [N-COUNT]
A grain of something such as sand or salt is a tiny hard piece of it.
...a grain of sand.
● -grained [COMB in ADJ]
...coarse-grained salt.
4 [N-SING] N of n
A grain of a quality is a very small amount of it.
There's more than a grain of truth in that.
5 [N-SING] the N
The grain of a piece of wood is the direction of its fibres. You can also refer to the pattern of lines on the surface of the wood as the grain.
Brush the paint generously over the wood in the direction of the grain.
● -grained [COMB in ADJ]
...a hard, heavy, straight-grained wood.
6 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you say that an idea or action goes against the grain, you mean that it is very difficult for you to accept it or do it, because it conflicts with your previous ideas, beliefs, or principles.
Privatisation goes against the grain of their principle of opposition to private ownership of industry.grain el|eva|tor (grain elevators)
[N-COUNT]
A grain elevator is a building in which grain such as corn is stored and which contains machinery for moving the grain. (AM)
1 [N-COUNT] usu with supp
A grain of wheat, rice, or other cereal crop is a seed from it.
...a grain of wheat.
...rice grains.
2 [N-MASS]
Grain is a cereal crop, especially wheat or corn, that has been harvested and is used for food or in trade.
...a bag of grain.
...the best grains.
3 [N-COUNT]
A grain of something such as sand or salt is a tiny hard piece of it.
...a grain of sand.
● -grained [COMB in ADJ]
...coarse-grained salt.
4 [N-SING] N of n
A grain of a quality is a very small amount of it.
There's more than a grain of truth in that.
5 [N-SING] the N
The grain of a piece of wood is the direction of its fibres. You can also refer to the pattern of lines on the surface of the wood as the grain.
Brush the paint generously over the wood in the direction of the grain.
● -grained [COMB in ADJ]
...a hard, heavy, straight-grained wood.
6 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you say that an idea or action goes against the grain, you mean that it is very difficult for you to accept it or do it, because it conflicts with your previous ideas, beliefs, or principles.
Privatisation goes against the grain of their principle of opposition to private ownership of industry.grain el|eva|tor (grain elevators)
[N-COUNT]
A grain elevator is a building in which grain such as corn is stored and which contains machinery for moving the grain. (AM)