A single small hard seed; a kernel,
especially of those plants, like wheat, whose seeds are used for
food.
The fruit of certain grasses which furnish
the chief food of man, as corn, wheat, rye, oats, etc., or the plants
themselves; -- used collectively.
Any small, hard particle, as of sand,
sugar, salt, etc.; hence, any minute portion or particle; as, a
grain of gunpowder, of pollen, of starch, of sense, of wit,
etc.
The unit of the English system of weights;
-- so called because considered equal to the average of grains taken
from the middle of the ears of wheat. 7,000 grains constitute the
pound avoirdupois, and 5,760 grains the pound troy. A grain is equal
to .0648 gram. See Gram.
A reddish dye made from the coccus insect,
or kermes; hence, a red color of any tint or hue, as crimson,
scarlet, etc.; sometimes used by the poets as equivalent to Tyrian
purple.
The composite particles of any substance;
that arrangement of the particles of any body which determines its
comparative roughness or hardness; texture; as, marble, sugar,
sandstone, etc., of fine grain.
The direction, arrangement, or appearance
of the fibers in wood, or of the strata in stone, slate,
etc.
The fiber which forms the substance of
wood or of any fibrous material.
The hair side of a piece of
leather, or the marking on that side.
The remains of grain, etc.,
after brewing or distillation; hence, any residuum. Also called
draff.
A rounded prominence on the
back of a sepal, as in the common dock. See
Grained,
a., 4.
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