GRAIN

I. noun see: corn Date: 14th century 1. a. a single small hard seed, a seed or fruit of a cereal grass ; caryopsis , the seeds or fruits of various food plants including the cereal grasses and in commercial and statutory usage other plants (as the soybean), plants producing ~, 2. a. a small hard particle or crystal, any of the particles produced in a photographic material by its development, an individual crystal in a metal, a minute portion or particle, the least amount possible , 3. kermes or a scarlet dye made from it, cochineal or a brilliant scarlet dye made from it, a fast dye, color , tint , 4. a granulated surface or appearance, the outer or hair side of a skin or hide, a unit of weight based on the weight of a ~ of wheat taken as an average of the weight of ~s from the middle of the ear, 6. the stratification of the wood fibers in a piece of wood, a texture due to constituent particles or fibers , the direction of threads in cloth, tactile quality, 8. natural disposition ; temper , a basic or characteristic quality, a prevalent ideology or convention , ~ed adjective ~less adjective II. verb Date: 1530 transitive verb in~ , to form into ~s ; granulate , to paint in imitation of the ~ of wood or stone, to feed with ~, intransitive verb to become granular ; granulate , ~er noun