(1)谷物(类)(seeds of wheat，rice，etc plants)[U]：～imports/exports 谷物进/出口;a～elevator 斗式谷物传送机;have surplus～有多余的粮食;bushels/bags of～几蒲式耳/袋谷物;a cargo of～一船谷物;

(2)谷粒(single example of such seeds)[C]：every～of rice 每粒稻子;a few～s of rice几粒稻谷;

(3)颗(粒)(any small，hard particle，as of sand，gold，pepper，gunpowder，etc)[C]：a～of sand/gold/salt 一颗沙/金/盐粒;sugar～s 糖渣;

(4)微量，少许，一点(very small amount)[C](fig)：have not a/the slightest～of humor/sense/intelligence 没有一点点幽默/辨别力/智慧;There isn't a～of truth in the story. 这个故事中没有丝毫真实的东西。 a few～s of truth 一点真实的东西;〖同〗bit;

(5) 1)质地;(石头等组成的)颗粒度(relative size of the particles of a substance)[U]：a stone of fine/medium/coarse～质地细/中等/粗的石头; 2)(木，石等的)纹理(arrangement or pattern of lines that are present in some substances such as wood，rock，cloth，etc)[U]：cut meat/wood in the direction of/along/across the～顺纹/顺纹/横纹切肉/砍木头;the attractive～of the table 好看的桌面纹理;

be/go against the grain 违反意愿;与性格格格不入：It goes against the～for me to tell lies/agree with him. 让我撒谎/同意他的意见，这违背我的天性。

with a grain of salt 不全信某人的话;take sb's words with a～of salt 不全信某人的话;have sb's statement taken with a～of salt 对某人的声明不全信;

→′grainy adj 粒状(面)的;

【辨异】grain 与corn 的区别见CORN。