ingrain

[ verb in-greyn; adjective, noun in-greyn ]
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verb (used with object)
  1. to implant or fix deeply and firmly, as in the nature or mind.

adjective
  1. ingrained; firmly fixed.

  2. (of fiber or yarn) dyed in a raw state, before being woven or knitted.

  1. made of fiber or yarn so dyed: ingrain fabric.

  2. (of carpets) made of ingrain yarn and so woven as to show a different pattern on each side; reversible.

noun
  1. yarn, wool, etc., dyed before manufacture.

  2. an ingrain carpet.

Origin of ingrain

1
First recorded in 1760–70; originally phrase (dyed) in grain (i.e., with kermes)
  • Also en·grain [en-greyn] /ɛnˈgreɪn/ (for defs. 1, 2) .

Other words for ingrain

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use ingrain in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for ingrain

ingrain

verb(ɪnˈɡreɪn) (tr)
  1. to impress deeply on the mind or nature; instil

  2. archaic to dye into the fibre of (a fabric)

adjective(ˈɪnˌɡreɪn)
  1. variants of ingrained

  2. (of woven or knitted articles, esp rugs and carpets) made of dyed yarn or of fibre that is dyed before being spun into yarn

noun(ˈɪnˌɡreɪn)
    • a carpet made from ingrained yarn

    • such yarn

Origin of ingrain

1
C18: from the phrase dyed in grain dyed with kermes through the fibre

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012