wheat

[ weet, hweet ]

noun

1. the grain of any cereal grass of the genus Triticum, especially T. aestivum, used in the form of flour for making bread, cakes, etc., and for other culinary and nutritional purposes.
2. the plant itself.

wheat

/ wiːt /

noun

1. any annual or biennial grass of the genus Triticum, native to the Mediterranean region and W Asia but widely cultivated, having erect flower spikes and light brown grains
2. the grain of any of these grasses, used in making flour, pasta, etc

Other Words From

• wheat·less adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of wheat¹

before 900; Middle English whete, Old English hwǣte; cognate with German Weizen, Old Norse hveiti, Gothic hwaiteis; akin to white

Word History and Origins

Origin of wheat¹

Old English hwǣte, related to Old Frisian, Old Saxon hwēti, Old High German hweizi, Old Norse hveiti; see white

Example Sentences

By the early 1960s, Mexico was growing six times more wheat than it did when Borlaug first arrived.

From The Daily Beast

Borlaug and his associates set out to develop strains of wheat that could resist diseases and pests, and thus improve yields.

From The Daily Beast

After plane loads of wheat seeds were sent to India in the 1960s, farmers there were able to boost production by a factor of four.

From The Daily Beast

He helped set up an institute in Mexico aimed at improving wheat and corn production.

From The Daily Beast

A blended scotch whisky is made by combining several single malts with wheat and/or corn whiskies in column stills.

From The Daily Beast

In 1205 wheat was worth 12 pence per bushel, which was cheap, as there had been some years of famine previous thereto.

From Project Gutenberg

Wheat gives place to Rye about the same time, and the Potato, at first comparatively rare, becomes universal.

From Project Gutenberg

He had the land in Tripp County that was broken into winter wheat, while that in the next county east was rented.

From Project Gutenberg

For most of the way the country is flat and fertile, and in good part devoted to Grazing, though considerable Wheat is grown.

From Project Gutenberg

The country is undulating and beautiful, mainly devoted to Grass, Wheat and Wood, and in the very highest condition.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• cereal
• grass