n
1【food】2【lines in wood etc】3【small piece】4 a grain of something5 against the grain6【measure】
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Date: 1200-1300;
Language: Old French;Origin:Latin granum
'seed']
【FOOD】a)[U]the seeds of crops such as corn, wheat, or rice that are gathered for use as food, or these crops themselves
big sacks of grain Last year's grain harvest was the biggest ever.b)[C]a single seed of corn, wheat etc
grains of rice【LINES IN WOOD ETC】 [singular] the natural lines you can see in a substance such as wood, which are the result of its structure
along the grain(=in the same direction as the grain)
Cut along the grain of the wood.across the grain(=at 90 degrees to the grain)
【SMALL PIECE】[C]a single very small piece of a substance such as sand or salt
grain of a grain of sand There were crumbs and grains of sugar on the table.a grain of stha very small amount of something
The story was so silly it wouldn't have fooled anyone with a grain of sense. There is a grain of truth in all folklore and legend.against the grainif something goes against the grain, it is not what you would naturally or normally do
Mary is always honest and it went against the grain to tell lies.【MEASURE】[C]the smallest unit for measuring weight, equal to about 0.06 grams. It is used for weighing medicines
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take sth with a pinch/grain of saltatsalt1 (3)