Collins English-English Dictionary

grain [greɪn]

1. 1. n the smallest unit of weight in the avoirdupois, Troy, and apothecaries' systems, based on the average weight of a grain of wheat: in the avoirdupois system it equals 1/7000 of a pound, and in the Troy and apothecaries' systems it equals 1/5760 of a pound. 1 grain is equal to 0.0648 gram gr

2. 2. n metric grain a metric unit of weight used for pearls or diamonds, equal to 50 milligrams or one quarter of a carat

3. 3. n the small hard seedlike fruit of a grass, esp a cereal plant

4. 4. n a mass of such fruits, esp when gathered for food

5. 5. n the plants, collectively, from which such fruits are harvested

6. 6. n a small hard particle

   a grain of sand

7. 7. n the general direction or arrangement of the fibrous elements in paper or wood

   to saw across the grain

8. 8. n the pattern or texture of wood resulting from such an arrangement

   the attractive grain of the table

9. 9. n the relative size of the particles of a substance

   sugar of fine grain

10. 10. n the granular texture of a rock, mineral, etc

11. 11. n the appearance of a rock, mineral, etc, determined by the size and arrangement of its constituents

12. 12. n the outer (hair-side) layer of a hide or skin from which the hair or wool has been removed

13. 13. n the pattern on the outer surface of such a hide or skin

14. 14. n a surface artificially imitating the grain of wood, leather, stone, etc; graining

15. 15. n the threads or direction of threads in a woven fabric

16. 16. n [photog] any of a large number of particles in a photographic emulsion, the size of which limit the extent to which an image can be enlarged without serious loss of definition

17. 17. n [Television] a granular effect in a television picture caused by electrical noise

18. 18. n cleavage lines in crystalline material, parallel to growth planes

19. 19. n [chem] any of a large number of small crystals forming a polycrystalline solid, each having a regular array of atoms that differs in orientation from that of the surrounding crystallites

20. 20. n a state of crystallization

    to boil syrup to the grain

21. 21. n a very small amount

    a grain of truth

22. 22. n natural disposition, inclination, or character (esp in the phrase go against the grain)

23. 23. n [astronautics] a homogenous mass of solid propellant in a form designed to give the required combustion characteristics for a particular rocket

24. 24. n [not in technical usage] kermes or a red dye made from this insect

25. 25. n an obsolete word for colour

26. 26. vb [mainly tr] [also intr] to form grains or cause to form into grains; granulate; crystallize

27. 27. vb to give a granular or roughened appearance or texture to

28. 28. vb to paint, stain, etc, in imitation of the grain of wood or leather

29. 29. vb to remove the hair or wool from (a hide or skin) before tanning

30. 30. vb to raise the grain pattern on (leather)

31. 31. vb [Etymology] C13: from Old French, from Latin granum