grain

(noun) a relatively small granular particle of a substance. Examples: "A grain of sand." "A grain of sugar."

(noun) foodstuff prepared from the starchy grains of cereal grasses. Synonyms: food grain, cereal.

(noun) the side of leather from which the hair has been removed.

(noun) a weight unit used for pearls or diamonds: 50 mg or 1/4 carat. Synonyms: metric grain.

(noun) 1/60 dram; equals an avoirdupois grain or 64.799 milligrams.

(noun) 1/7000 pound; equals a troy grain or 64.799 milligrams.

(noun) dry seed-like fruit produced by the cereal grasses: e.g. wheat, barley, Indian corn. Synonyms: caryopsis.

(noun) a cereal grass. Example: "Wheat is a grain that is grown in kansas."

(noun) the smallest possible unit of anything. Examples: "There was a grain of truth in what he said." "He does not have a grain of sense."

(noun) the direction, texture, or pattern of fibers found in wood or leather or stone or in a woven fabric. Example: "Saw the board across the grain."

(noun) the physical composition of something (especially with respect to the size and shape of the small constituents of a substance). Synonyms: texture. Examples: "Breadfruit has the same texture as bread." "Sand of a fine grain." "Fish with a delicate flavor and texture." "A stone of coarse grain."

(verb) thoroughly work in. Synonyms: ingrain. Example: "His hands were grained with dirt."

(verb) paint (a surface) to make it look like stone or wood.

(verb) form into grains. Synonyms: granulate.

(verb) become granular. Synonyms: granulate.