Definition of grain

The word "grain" has its roots in Old English and Old French. It comes from the Latin word "granum," which means "seed" or "grain." In Old English, the word "grēn" referred to a single grain of wheat or other cereal, and by the 14th century, it had evolved to mean a quantity of grains or a harvest of crops. The word "grain" was also influenced by the Old French "graine," which was likely borrowed from the Latin "granum." In Middle English, around the 13th century, the word "grain" referred to the seed of any cereal, such as wheat, oats, or barley, and over time its meaning expanded to include other seeds, such as rice or corn. Today, the word "grain" is commonly used to describe a grain of a cereal, as well as a unit of measurement or a specific type of food.