grain

Universal Words noun 1 [U,C] the small hard seeds of food plants such as wheat, rice, etc.; a single seed of such a plant: America's grain exports * a few grains of rice seealsoWHOLEGRAIN 2 [C] a small hard piece of particular substances: a grain of salt / sand / sugar 3 [C] (used especially in negative sentences) a very small amount: There isn't a grain of truth in those rumours. * If he had a grain of sensitivity he wouldn't have asked her about her divorce. 4 [C] the smallest unit of weight, equal to 0.00143 of a pound or 0.0648 of a GRAM, used for example for weighing medicines: The analysis showed a few grains of arsenic in the solution. 5 [U] the natural direction of lines in wood, fabric, etc. or of layers of rock; the pattern of lines that you can see: to cut a piece of wood along / across the grain 6 [U,C] how rough or smooth a surface feels: wood of coarse / fine grain IDIOMS be / go against the grain to be or do sth different from what is normal or natural: It really goes against the grain to have to work on a Sunday.