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caryopsis

 - 5 dictionary results

car⋅y⋅op⋅sis

[kar-ee-op-sis]
–noun, plural -ses [-seez] -si⋅des [-si-deez] . Botany.
a small, one-celled, one-seeded, dry indehiscent fruit with the pericarp adherent to the seed coat, the typical fruit of grasses and grains.

Origin:
1820–30; cary(o)- + -opsis
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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car·y·op·sis   (kār'ē-ŏp'sĭs)   
n.   pl. car·y·op·ses (-ŏp'sēz') or car·y·op·si·des (-ŏp'sĭ-dēz')
See grain.

[cary(o)-, variant of karyo- + -opsis.]
grain   (grān)   
n.  
    1. A small, dry, one-seeded fruit of a cereal grass, having the fruit and the seed walls united: a single grain of wheat; gleaned the grains from the ground one at a time. Also called caryopsis.

    2. The fruits of cereal grasses especially after having been harvested, considered as a group: The grain was stored in a silo.

    3. A cereal grass: Wheat is a grain grown in Kansas.

    4. Cereal grasses considered as a group: Grain is grown along the river.

    5. A relatively small discrete particulate or crystalline mass: a grain of sand.

    6. A small amount or the smallest amount possible: hasn't a grain of sense.

    7. The side of a hide or piece of leather from which the hair or fur has been removed.

    8. The pattern or markings on this side of leather.

    9. Basic temperament or nature; disposition.

    10. An essential quality or characteristic.

    1. A cereal grass: Wheat is a grain grown in Kansas.

    2. Cereal grasses considered as a group: Grain is grown along the river.

    3. A relatively small discrete particulate or crystalline mass: a grain of sand.

    4. A small amount or the smallest amount possible: hasn't a grain of sense.

    5. The side of a hide or piece of leather from which the hair or fur has been removed.

    6. The pattern or markings on this side of leather.

    7. Basic temperament or nature; disposition.

    8. An essential quality or characteristic.

    1. A relatively small discrete particulate or crystalline mass: a grain of sand.

    2. A small amount or the smallest amount possible: hasn't a grain of sense.

    3. The side of a hide or piece of leather from which the hair or fur has been removed.

    4. The pattern or markings on this side of leather.

    5. Basic temperament or nature; disposition.

    6. An essential quality or characteristic.

  1. Aerospace A mass of solid propellant.

  2. Abbr. gr. A unit of weight in the U.S. Customary System, an avoirdupois unit equal to 0.002285 ounce (0.065 gram). See Table at measurement.

  3. The arrangement, direction, or pattern of the fibrous tissue in wood.

    1. The side of a hide or piece of leather from which the hair or fur has been removed.

    2. The pattern or markings on this side of leather.

    3. Basic temperament or nature; disposition.

    4. An essential quality or characteristic.

  4. The pattern produced, as in stone, by the arrangement of particulate constituents.

  5. The relative size of the particles composing a substance or pattern: a coarse grain.

  6. A painted, stamped, or printed design that imitates the pattern found in wood, leather, or stone.

  7. The direction or texture of fibers in a woven fabric.

  8. A state of fine crystallization.

    1. Basic temperament or nature; disposition.

    2. An essential quality or characteristic.

  9. Archaic Color; tint.

v.   grained, grain·ing, grains

v.   tr.
  1. To cause to form into grains; granulate.

  2. To paint, stamp, or print with a design imitating the grain of wood, leather, or stone.

  3. To give a granular or rough texture to.

  4. To remove the hair or fur from (hides) in preparation for tanning.

v.   intr.
To form grains.

[Middle English, from Old French graine, from Latin grānum; see gə-no- in Indo-European roots.]
grain'er n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Science Dictionary
caryopsis   (kār'ē-ŏp'sĭs)  Pronunciation Key 
Plural caryopses (kār'ē-ŏp'sēz') or caryopsides (kār'ē-ŏp'sĭ-dēz')
A small, dry, one-seeded fruit of a cereal grass, having the fruit and the seed walls united. Also called grain.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Encyclopedia

caryopsis

specialized type of dry, one-seeded fruit (achene) characteristic of grasses, in which the ovary wall is united with the seed coat, making it difficult to separate the two except by special milling processes. All the cereal grains except buckwheat have caryopses.

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Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
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