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

/ glo̅o̅m /

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

Derived Forms

• gluˈmaceous, adjective
• ˈglumeˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• glumelike 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

In both the fruits fall out freely from the glume, and in the latter the awns are three-pronged and shorter than the grain.

From Project Gutenberg

The flowering glume is divided at the tip, and provided with a long, bent, twisted bristle.

From Project Gutenberg

Flowers all perfect; flowering glume bifid, short-awned between the teeth.

From Project Gutenberg

Flowering glume and palet herbaceous, the former (anterior) convex, long-awned from the apex.

From Project Gutenberg

Outer glumes unequal, often bristle-pointed; the flowering glume tipped with three awns; the palet much smaller.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• chaff
• pod
• rind