grain

grain /ɡreɪn/ BrE AmE noun
[Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: Latin granum 'seed']
1. FOOD
a) [uncountable] the seeds of crops such as corn, wheat, or rice that are gathered for use as food, or these crops themselves:
big sacks of grain
Last year’s grain harvest was the biggest ever.
b) [countable] a single seed of corn, wheat etc:
grains of rice
2. LINES IN WOOD ETC [singular] the natural lines you can see in a substance such as wood, which are the result of its structure
along the grain (=in the same direction as the grain)
Cut along the grain of the wood.
across the grain (=at 90 degrees to the grain)
3. SMALL PIECE [countable] a single very small piece of a substance such as sand or salt
grain of
a grain of sand
There were crumbs and grains of sugar on the table.
4. a grain of something a very small amount of something:
The story wouldn’t have fooled anyone with a grain of sense.
There is a grain of truth in all folklore and legend.
5. against the grain if something goes against the grain, it is not what you would naturally or normally do:
Mary is always honest and it went against the grain to tell lies.
6. MEASURE [countable] the smallest unit for measuring weight, equal to about 0.06 grams. It is used for weighing medicines.
⇨ take something with a pinch/grain of salt at ↑salt¹(3)

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

grain

grain [grain grains grained graining] [ɡreɪn] [ɡreɪn] noun
1. uncountable, countable the small hard seeds of food plants such as wheat, rice, etc; a single seed of such a plant
• America's grain exports
• a few grains of rice

see also wholegrain

2. countable a small hard piece of particular substances

• a grain of salt/sand/sugar

3. countable (used especially in negative sentences) a very small amount
Syn: iota
• There isn't a grain of truth in those rumours.

• If he had a grain of sensitivity he wouldn't have asked her about her divorce.

4. countable a small unit of weight, equal to 0.00143 of a pound or 0.0648 of a gram, used for example for weighing medicines

• The analysis showed a few grains of arsenic in the solution.

5. uncountable the natural direction of lines in wood, cloth, etc. or of layers of rock; the pattern of lines that you can see

• to cut a piece of wood along/across the grain

6. uncountable, countable how rough or smooth a surface feels
• wood of coarse/fine grain
Idiom: against the grain
Word Origin:
Middle English (originally in the sense ‘seed, grain of corn’): from Old French grain, from Latin granum.
Example Bank:
• The journal reports that eating whole grains protects against diabetes.
• This wood has a beautiful natural grain.
• Grain production has been falling in recent years.
• I got a grain of sand caught in my eye.
• She sprinkled a few more grains of rice into the pan.
• The government intends to import only five per cent of the country's grain.
• The peasants had ceased to sow grain.
• There were just a few grains of corn left.

• a grain of rice/wheat/salt/sugar/sand

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

grain / ɡreɪn / noun [ C or U ] (SEED)

C2 a seed or seeds from a plant, especially a plant like a grass such as rice or wheat:

grains of wheat/rice

Grain (= the crop from food plants like grasses) is one of the main exports of the American Midwest.

→ See also wholegrain

Collins Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

grain

[gre͟ɪn]
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.
  Derived words:
  -grained COMB in ADJ-GRADED ...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.
  Derived words:
  -grained COMB in ADJ-GRADED ...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.

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

grain
grain /ˈgreɪn/ noun, pl grains
1 a [noncount] : the seeds of plants (such as wheat, corn, and rice) that are used for food
• bread made from whole wheat grain
• The machine grinds grain into flour. also; [count] : a single seed of wheat, corn, rice, etc.
• a grain of rice
b : a plant that produces grain

[count]

• The farm grows a variety of grains.

[noncount]

• fields planted with grain
2 [count]
a : a small, hard piece of something
• a grain of sand/salt
- see also take (something) with a grain of salt at ¹salt
b : a very small amount of something
• Anyone with a grain of sense knows that she's lying.
• There is not a grain of truth in what he said.
3 [count]
a : the way the lines or fibers in something (such as wood) are arranged - usually singular
• She sanded the wood in the direction of the grain.
b : the way that the surface of something feels when it is touched - usually singular
• The wood has a fine/coarse grain.
4 [count] : a unit of weight equal to 0.0648 grams
against the grain
1
✦To be/go against the grain is to be different or to act in a way that is different from what is normal or usual.
• It takes courage to go against the grain and stand up for what you believe in.
2
✦If something goes against your grain, it does not seem right or natural to you.
• It goes against his grain to question the boss's judgment.
- grained /ˈgreɪnd/ adj
• beautifully grained wood
• coarse-grained leather