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whole grain

whole grain

23 2.7
A grain that still has all its natural parts, like the outer layer and soft inside
  • noun
  • /hoʊl ɡreɪn/
translation icon : grano integral
  • Many nutritionists recommend that you incorporate more whole grain options into your meals.
  • whole grain foods
  • whole grain bread
  • whole grain products

So just think fruits, veggies, whole grains, beans, soy products.

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Examples

  • You're going to eat whole grain foods, right?

  • I usually will just do like a whole grain bread.

  • When you look at the population level, people who consume more whole grains have better health, right?

  • So you can actually make a much healthy cookies by using whole grains and vegetable oils, a little bit of sugar.

  • Paragraph: Whole grains are an important part of a balanced diet.

    Academic text (2014)
  • The turkey sandwich looked lovely with visibly whole-grain bread, grilled with tomatoes and warm turkey inside.

    Blog text (14)
  • Yesterday's meal consisted of a whole grain cereal and milk, graham crackers, and a fresh peach.

    Blog text (21)
  • For example, carbohydrate-rich whole grains, fruits, and vegetables are at the core of the heart-healthy Mediterranean and DASH diets.

    Academic text (2015)
  • Switching to whole grain bread can be a simple way to improve your diet.

  • Including whole grain foods like brown rice and oats can benefit your health.

Antonyms

milled
  • Specialized
3.0

Having the hard outer husk removed by grinding, like white rice

How Refined

white rice
9 1.0
plain flour
  • UK
1 1.0
wholemeal
  • UK
3.2
whole grain
23 2.7

Surface Forms

whole grain singular
whole grains plural

Morphology

whole + grain

The meaning is directly and compositionally derived from 'whole' (complete/intact) + 'grain' (cereal seed): it denotes a grain that remains intact, so a learner who knows both words can infer the intended sense. This kind of adjective+noun composition is common across languages and follows a straightforward semantic pattern, making it immediately comprehensible to a B1 learner.

Etymology

The name whole grain comes from the simple image of the grain kept whole: the seed keeps its outer bran, its tiny germ, and its soft endosperm instead of having them removed to make it 'white'. That's why whole grain means food made from the entire grain, not from only the refined or 'white' part.