grains Meaning, Definition & Usage

1. noun a relatively small granular particle of a substance
   grain.
   
   • a grain of sand
   • a grain of sugar
2. noun foodstuff prepared from the starchy grains of cereal grasses
   food grain; grain; cereal.
   
3. noun the side of leather from which the hair has been removed
   grain.
   
4. noun a weight unit used for pearls or diamonds: 50 mg or 1/4 carat
   metric grain; grain.
   
5. noun 1/60 dram; equals an avoirdupois grain or 64.799 milligrams
   grain.
   
6. noun 1/7000 pound; equals a troy grain or 64.799 milligrams
   grain.
   
7. noun dry seed-like fruit produced by the cereal grasses: e.g. wheat, barley, Indian corn
   caryopsis; grain.
   
8. noun a cereal grass
   grain.
   
   • wheat is a grain that is grown in Kansas
9. noun the smallest possible unit of anything
   grain.
   
   • there was a grain of truth in what he said
   • he does not have a grain of sense
10. noun the direction, texture, or pattern of fibers found in wood or leather or stone or in a woven fabric
    grain.
    
    • saw the board across the grain
11. noun the physical composition of something (especially with respect to the size and shape of the small constituents of a substance)
    grain; texture.
    
    • breadfruit has the same texture as bread
    • sand of a fine grain
    • fish with a delicate flavor and texture
    • a stone of coarse grain
12. verb thoroughly work in
    grain; ingrain.
    
    • His hands were grained with dirt
13. verb paint (a surface) to make it look like stone or wood
    grain.
    
14. verb form into grains
    grain; granulate.
    
15. verb become granular
    grain; granulate.
    

WordNet