1. (v. & n.) See Groan.

2. (n.) A single small hard seed; a kernel, especially of those plants, like wheat, whose seeds are used for food.

3. (n.) The fruit of certain grasses which furnish the chief food of man, as corn, wheat, rye, oats, etc., or the plants themselves; -- used collectively.

4. (n.) Any small, hard particle, as of sand, sugar, salt, etc.; hence, any minute portion or particle; as, a grain of gunpowder, of pollen, of starch, of sense, of wit, etc.

5. (n.) The unit of the English system of weights; -- so called because considered equal to the average of grains taken from the middle of the ears of wheat. 7,000 grains constitute the pound avoirdupois, and 5,760 grains the pound troy. A grain is equal to .0648 gram. See Gram.

6. (n.) A reddish dye made from the coccus insect, or kermes; hence, a red color of any tint or hue, as crimson, scarlet, etc.; sometimes used by the poets as equivalent to Tyrian purple.

7. (n.) The composite particles of any substance; that arrangement of the particles of any body which determines its comparative roughness or hardness; texture; as, marble, sugar, sandstone, etc., of fine grain.

8. (n.) The direction, arrangement, or appearance of the fibers in wood, or of the strata in stone, slate, etc.

9. (n.) The fiber which forms the substance of wood or of any fibrous material.

10. (n.) The hair side of a piece of leather, or the marking on that side.

11. (n.) The remains of grain, etc., after brewing or distillation; hence, any residuum. Also called draff.

12. (n.) A rounded prominence on the back of a sepal, as in the common dock. See Grained, a., 4.

13. (a.) Temper; natural disposition; inclination.

14. (n.) A sort of spice, the grain of paradise.

15. (v. t.) To paint in imitation of the grain of wood, marble, etc.

16. (v. t.) To form (powder, sugar, etc.) into grains.

17. (v. t.) To take the hair off (skins); to soften and raise the grain of (leather, etc.).

18. (n.) To yield fruit.

19. (n.) To form grains, or to assume a granular form, as the result of crystallization; to granulate.

20. (n.) A branch of a tree; a stalk or stem of a plant.

21. (n.) A tine, prong, or fork.

22. (n.) One the branches of a valley or of a river.

23. (n.) An iron first speak or harpoon, having four or more barbed points.

24. (n.) A blade of a sword, knife, etc.

25. (n.) A thin piece of metal, used in a mold to steady a core.

abrade ace acorn aftergrass animus apply paint aptitude atom atomize bamboo barley beat bedaub bedizen begild bent berry besmear bias bird seed bit blood body-build bran brand bray break up breccia brecciate breed brush on paint calcimine cane cast cat food cereal cereal plant character characteristic characteristics chicken feed chop clan coarsen coat color come to dust comminute complexion composition constituents constitution contriturate corn cover crasis crumb crumble crumble into dust crumble to dust crush dab daub debris deep-dye denomination description designation detritus dharma diathesis dip disintegrate disposition distemper dog food dole dot double-dye dram dribble driblet drop droplet dwarf dye eatage eccentricity effloresce emblazon enamel engild ensilage ethos face fall to dust fall to pieces farinaceous plant farthing fast-dye feather feed feel fiber finish flaxseed fleck flour flyspeck fodder fog forage forage grass form fragment frame fresco fruit genius genre genus gild glaze gloss gnat gobbet graminaceous plant granular texture granulate granule granulet granulize grass grate gravel grind grind to powder grist grit groat habit hair handful hay hayseed hint hue humor humors idiosyncrasy ilk illuminate imbue inclination indentation individualism ingrain iota japan jot kernel kidney kin kind knub label lacquer lawn grass lay on color leaning levigate line linseed little little bit lot lota make makeup manner mark mash meal mental set mettle microbe microorganism midge mill mind mind-set minim minimum minutia minutiae mite modicum mold molecule morsel mote nap nature nub number nut nutshell oats ornamental grass ounce paint parget particle pasturage pasture pattern pebble persuasion pestle pet food phylum physique pigment pile pinch pinhead pinpoint pip pit pittance pock point pound powder predilection predisposition preference prime proclivity propensity property protuberance provender pulverize quality race reduce to powder reed roughen sand scintilla scrap scratch scratch feed