The Grain of Wood Is Named After Seeds
A grain is a seed of a cereal plant. The word extends to the texture of wood, stone and photographs.
A grain is a seed of a cereal plant, or a small hard particle. The texture sense follows from the particle one: the *grain* of wood is the direction of its fibres, and *going against the grain* originally meant planing wood the wrong way, which tears rather than cuts. Photographs and stone have grain for the same reason — visible small particles with a direction. A *grain* is also the smallest unit in the old apothecaries' system, about 65 milligrams.
- A cereal seed. *Grains of wheat.*
- A small particle. *A grain of sand.*
- Wood texture. *A fine grain.*
- Against the grain — contrary to inclination. *It goes against the grain.*
- A tiny amount. *A grain of truth.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | grain | One grain. |
| Plural | grains | Grains of rice. |
| Adjective | grainy | A grainy photo. |
| Verb | grain | Grain the surface. |
| Latin | granum | A seed. |
- Cut along the grain of the wood.Carpentry.
- Take it with a grain of salt.Idiom.
- It goes against the grain for me.Reluctance.
The granum family
- Grain — a seed or particle
- Granule — a small grain
- Granary — a store for grain
- Pomegranate — an apple with many seeds
- Grenade — named for its resemblance to a pomegranate
Old French *grain*, from Latin *granum*, a seed or grain, from an Indo-European root also behind *corn*.
Why does against the grain mean reluctantly?
From woodworking. Planing against the direction of the fibres tears the surface instead of cutting it cleanly.
Is a grenade related to grain?
Yes, through pomegranate. The fruit is full of seeds, and the early weapon resembled it.