glume

[gloom]

noun

Botany.

1. one of the characteristic chafflike bracts of the inflorescence of grasses, sedges, etc., especially one of the pair of bracts at the base of a spikelet.

glume

/ ɡluːm /

noun

1. botany one of a pair of dry membranous bracts at the base of the spikelet of grasses

2. the bract beneath each flower in a sedge or related plant

glume

1. One of the two chaffy bracts at the base of a grass spikelet.

Other Word Forms

• glumelike adjective
• glumaceous adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of glume¹

1570–80; < Latin glūma husk enclosing a cereal grain, probably equivalent to glūb ( ere ) to strip the bark from + *-sma noun suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of glume¹

C18: from Latin glūma husk of corn; related to Latin glūbere to remove the bark from

Example Sentences

Flowering glume awnless, in fruit more rigid than the empty glumes.

Read more on Project Gutenberg

The others retained the elongated, narrow, brownish-red ears, the flowering glumes again opening wide for some days.

Read more on Project Gutenberg

Go, reaper, Speed and reap, Go take the harvest Of the plough: The wheat is standing Broad and deep, The barley glumes Are golden now.

Read more on Project Gutenberg

Fertile glumes generally longer than the empty, unawned or with a straight, terminal awn.

Read more on Project Gutenberg

Chaff, small membranous scales or bracts on the receptacle of Composit�; the glumes, &c., of grasses.

Read more on Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• chaff 
• pod 
• rind