grain
seeds or crops like wheat or rice
The small hard seeds of plants like wheat or rice that people eat, or the plants grown for these seeds.
[someone] eats/grows/trades [grain]
- Eating more whole grain has been linked to better heart health.
- The government announced subsidies to support local grain farmers.
- Most of the country's grain is exported to neighboring regions.
- Rice is the main grain in many Asian countries.
- Last year’s drought severely reduced the grain harvest.
- I try to eat whole grain every day.
- This bread is made from whole grain wheat.
- The farmer sells his grain at the market.
- They store the grain in a big building.
- Corn is an important grain for this country.
tiny hard piece of material
A very small, hard piece of something like sand, salt, or sugar.
a grain of [substance]
- She brushed a few grains of sand off the book.
- Add a few grains of salt to bring out the flavor.
- Fine grains of sugar covered the top of the cake.
- A grain of dust got into the camera and scratched the lens.
- The samples contained tiny grains of metal mixed with the soil.
- There were grains of sand in my shoes.
- He put a few grains of salt on the egg.
- I saw grains of sugar on the table.
- A grain of dirt was in my eye.
- She felt grains of sand under her feet.
very small amount of something
A very small amount of something you cannot touch, like truth or hope.
a grain of [abstract noun]
- There is a grain of truth in what she says.
- I still hold on to a grain of hope that we can fix this.
- His story didn’t contain a grain of sense.
- The article lacked even a grain of evidence to support its claims.
- There isn’t a grain of doubt in my mind about her honesty.
- There is a grain of truth in his words.
- She still has a grain of hope.
- His idea does not have a grain of sense.
- The report has not a grain of evidence.
- I do not feel a grain of doubt about this.
natural pattern in wood or similar
The lines and direction you can see in materials like wood or stone.
the grain of [material]
- Always sand in the direction of the grain of the wood.
- The table’s natural grain gives it a beautiful, organic look.
- Some types of stone have a very visible grain.
- The carpenter studied the grain before cutting the board.
- This floor has a tight, even grain that makes it very attractive.
- He sands the wood with the grain.
- You can see the grain of the wood on the door.
- The grain of this table is very beautiful.
- Cut the board along the grain, not across it.
- The stone has a clear grain running through it.
visible roughness in photos or film
Small dots you can see in a photo or film that make the picture look rough or not smooth.
[photo/image/film] has [amount] of grain
- The low light introduced a lot of grain into the photo.
- Some directors like the look of heavy film grain.
- You can reduce digital grain by lowering the ISO setting.
- The image has fine grain that gives it a classic look.
- He used software to remove the grain from the old footage.
- The photo has a lot of grain.
- I like the film grain in this movie.
- Low light can create grain in your pictures.
- This camera makes images with very little grain.
- They removed the grain from the old video.
unit of weight (about 0.065 g)
A very small unit of weight, used in some technical areas like bullets and medicine, equals about 0.065 grams.
[number] grains of [substance]
- The ammunition is labeled as 124-grain hollow points.
- Older medical recipes sometimes call for five grains of a drug.
- In ballistics, bullet weight is often given in grains.
- The pressure is specified in grains per square meter.
- He carefully measured out ten grains of the chemical.
- The bullet weighs 150 grains.
- Some old medicine bottles use grains, not milligrams.
- A grain is a very small unit of weight.
- This chart shows bullet weight in grains.
- The recipe asks for three grains of the powder.
form grains or create grain pattern
To become small hard pieces, or to make a surface look like it has a natural grain pattern.
[something] grains / [someone] grains [surface]
- The sugar begins to grain as the syrup cools.
- The leather was artificially grained to make it look more expensive.
- This technique grains the wood to highlight its natural lines.
- If the chocolate is overheated, it can grain and lose its smooth texture.
- They use a special roller to grain the metal surface.
- The hot sugar cools and starts to grain.
- The factory grains the leather to give it a pattern.
- The woodworker grains the wood for a special look.
- The sauce was cooked too long and began to grain.
- They use a machine to grain the metal panels.
- Base: grain
- Plural: grain, grains
- Base: grain
- 3rd Person Singular: grains
- Present Participle: graining
- Past: grained
a grain of truth
1small part that is true
A very small part of something that is true, even if most of it is not true.
- There’s a grain of truth in every rumor.
- Her comment had a grain of truth, even if it sounded harsh.
- The story may be exaggerated, but it contains a grain of truth.
against the grain
1in a way someone naturally dislikes
In a way that feels wrong or uncomfortable for someone, or that is very different from what they usually do or like.
- Being rude goes against the grain with him.
- The decision ran against the grain of public opinion.
- Working in a very strict office goes against the grain for many creative people.
grain elevator
1tall grain storage building
A tall building where large amounts of grain are stored and moved, often near farms or train lines.
- Trucks lined up outside the grain elevator during harvest season.
- The town’s skyline is dominated by a massive grain elevator.
- Farmers bring their wheat to the local grain elevator for storage.
grain of sand
1single tiny piece of sand
One very small piece of sand.
- Every grain of sand sparkled in the sun.
- A single grain of sand can damage a camera lens.
- The beach was covered in countless grains of sand.
refined grain
1processed grain with parts removed
Grain that has been processed so that some parts, like the outside layer and the germ, are taken away.
- Dietitians advise limiting refined grain in your meals.
- White bread is usually made from refined grain.
- Refined grain products often contain less fiber than whole grains.
whole grain
1grain with all parts kept
Grain that still has all its parts, including the outside layer, so it is less processed and usually healthier.
- Nutritionists recommend choosing whole grain products whenever possible.
- This cereal is made from 100% whole grain oats.
- Switching to whole grain bread can improve your diet.
whole-grain bread
1bread made from whole grain flour
Bread that is made mostly from whole grain flour, not from white refined flour.
- She prefers whole-grain bread to white bread.
- The doctor suggested replacing white bread with whole-grain bread.
- Whole-grain bread usually has more fiber and a stronger taste.
go against the grain
1do something unnatural or uncomfortable
To do something that feels wrong, strange, or very different from what a person usually does or believes, or from what most people do.
- It goes against the grain for me to lie to anyone.
- It goes against the grain for her to lie, even to protect a friend.
- Helping them might go against the grain, but it's the right thing to do.
- Cutting jobs goes against the grain of everything the company stands for.
- Wasting food really goes against the grain in this household.
take something with a grain of salt
1not completely believe something
To not fully believe something you are told, because you think it may not be true or may be made bigger or better than it really is.
- You should take his promises with a grain of salt—he often exaggerates.
- You should take his promises with a grain of salt.
- I take all online reviews with a grain of salt.
- Take these early reports with a grain of salt until we have more facts.
- I’d take anything you read on that website with a grain of salt.