ɡreɪn n. & v. --n. 1 a
fruit or
seed of a
cereal. 2 a (collect.)
wheat or
any allied grass used as
food, corn. b (collect.)
their fruit. c any
particular species of corn. 3 a a
small hard particle of
salt,
sand, etc. b a
discrete particle or
crystal, usu. small, in a rock or
metal. c a
piece of
solid propellant for use in a rocket
engine. 4
the smallest
unit of
weight in the
troy system (equivalent to 1/480 of an ounce),
and in the
avoirdupois system (equivalent to 1/437.5 of an ounce). 5 the smallest
possible quantity (not a grain of
truth in it). 6 a roughness of
surface. b Photog. a
granular appearance on a
photograph or
negative. 7 the
texture of
skin,
wood,
stone,
etc.; the
arrangement and size of
constituent particles. 8 a a
pattern of lines of
fibre in wood or
paper. b lamination or planes of
cleavage in stone,
coal, etc. 9
nature,
temper,
tendency. 10 a
hist.
kermes or
cochineal, or
dye made from either of
these. b
poet. dye;
colour. --v. 1 tr.
paint in
imitation of the grain of wood or
marble. 2 tr.
give a granular surface
to. 3 tr. dye in grain. 4 tr. & intr.
form into grains. 5 tr.
remove hair from (hides). øagainst the grain
contrary to one's
natural inclination or
feeling. grain-leather
leather dressed
with grain-side
out. grain-side the
side of a hide on
which the hair
was. grains of
Paradise capsules of a W.
African plant (Aframomum melegueta), used as a
spice and a
drug. in grain
thorough,
genuine, by nature,
downright,
indelible. øøgrained adj. (also in comb.). grainer n. grainless adj. [ME f. OF f. L granum]