grain

Use the word "grain" when talking about the small seeds that are harvested from plants for food. Grain can come from wheat, corn, barley, rye, etcetera.

• I prefer whole grain bread to processed white bread.
• Most of the grain harvested in this area consists of corn.
• Whole grain cereal is a good source of fiber for your diet.
• Grain prices in the midwest are starting to come down due to an over supply of corn. (The laws of supply and demand are in effect.)
• The excess grain that is harvested is stored in a grain silo.

Grain comes from seeds.

We also use "grain" when describing a very small amount of something:

• There are a few grains of sand in my shoe.
• Some grains of rice fell on the floor.
• I always take what he has to say with a grain of salt. (This is an expression. It’s said when a person is suspicious of statements made by another.)
• There’s not a single grain of truth in that statement.

The word "grain" is also useful when describing the patterns found in a tree that has been cut. The wood or lumber that is produced has a grain that might be desirable for making furniture or other objects.

• Oak is valuable because it has an attractive grain.
• Maple has a distinctive grain.
• The grain in pine wood comes out when it is stained.
• Cutting against the grain reveals the age of a tree.

Click here to go to the Word of the Day page.

April 7, 2015