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Synonyms

grains

American  
[greynz] / greɪnz /

noun

(often used with a singular verb)

  1. an iron instrument with barbed prongs, for spearing or harpooning fish.

Etymology

Origin of grains

1895–1900; earlier grainse < Old Norse grein branch, division; compare Swedish gren

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Grains are ready to break out and continue a commodities rally that has been driven by energy and metals, according to a technical strategist.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 6, 2026

Grains are largely shipped via barge to ports, where they are then sent abroad.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 19, 2025

Grains are seeds that are ground up to make flour.

From NewsForKids.net • May 31, 2024

Grains are not typically grown in hydroponics apart for their use as fodder.

From Science Daily • Dec. 27, 2023

Grains made up only a small fraction of the human diet before the Agricultural Revolution.

From "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.