grain

A seed from a crop such as wheat or rice, used as food.

• A grain of rice fell on the floor.
• These grains are ground into flour.
• We eat bread made from whole grain.

How to use it: a grain of something (There was a grain of wheat in the bag.)

Similar words: cereal seed

Common phrases: grain of rice, whole grain, grain harvest

A very small piece of a substance such as sand or salt.

• A grain of sand got in my eye.
• Tiny grains of sugar covered the cake.
• She brushed the last grain of salt off the table.

How to use it: a grain of something (A grain of sugar stuck to his lip.)

Similar words: particle, speck

Common phrases: grain of sand, grain of salt, tiny grain

An edible seed from a crop such as quinoa or buckwheat, used like wheat or rice.

• Quinoa is a grain used in salads.
• Buckwheat grains cook quickly in boiling water.
• This grain makes a useful alternative to rice.

Similar words: corn

Common phrases: quinoa grain, buckwheat grain, cook grain

Plants such as wheat or rice grown in fields for their edible seeds.

• They grow grain on this farm.
• The fields were full of ripe grain.
• Heavy rain damaged the grain before harvest.

Similar words: cereal crops

Common phrases: grow grain, grain crops, plant grain