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wheat germ

American  

noun

  1. the embryo or nucleus of the wheat kernel, used in or on foods as a concentrated source of vitamins.


wheat germ British  

noun

  1. the vitamin-rich embryo of the wheat kernel, which is largely removed before milling and is used in cereals, as a food supplement, etc

"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

Etymology

Origin of wheat germ

First recorded in 1900–05

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.

For example, sweet almond oil is Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis, peanut oil is Arachis Hypogaea, and wheat germ extract is Triticum Vulgare.

From BBC • Jul. 12, 2025

Moran frequently makes a vegan “meatloaf” that reminds her of her grandmother’s, replacing the chopped meat with a mixture of rice, mushrooms, walnuts, and wheat germ.

From National Geographic • Oct. 19, 2023

When it comes to wheat, that means sniffing out wheat germ, the embryo inside the seed that develops into the plant.

From Science Magazine • May 22, 2023

These include alcohol, fermented foods, dairy products, shellfish, processed meats and aged cheese, as well as wheat germ and a range of fruit and vegetables.

From Salon • Feb. 25, 2023

I emptied their capsules into a saucepan and rinsed out the odor of wheat germ with water from the tap.

From "Travels with Charley in Search of America" by John Steinbeck

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