glume

[ gloom ]

noun

, Botany.

1. one of the characteristic chafflike bracts of the inflorescence of grasses, sedges, etc., especially one of the pair of bracts at the base of a spikelet.

glume

/ ɡluːm /

noun

1. botany one of a pair of dry membranous bracts at the base of the spikelet of grasses
2. the bract beneath each flower in a sedge or related plant

glume

/ glo̅o̅m /

1. One of the two chaffy bracts at the base of a grass spikelet.

Derived Forms

• gluˈmaceous, adjective
• ˈglumeˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• glumelike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of glume¹

1570–80; < Latin glūma husk enclosing a cereal grain, probably equivalent to glūb ( ere ) to strip the bark from + *-sma noun suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of glume¹

C18: from Latin glūma husk of corn; related to Latin glūbere to remove the bark from

Example Sentences

Flowers destitute of proper perianth, except sometimes small scales or bristles, but covered by scale-like bracts or glumes.

From Project Gutenberg

The others retained the elongated, narrow, brownish-red ears, the flowering glumes again opening wide for some days.

From Project Gutenberg

Go, reaper, Speed and reap, Go take the harvest Of the plough: The wheat is standing Broad and deep, The barley glumes Are golden now.

From Project Gutenberg

Fertile glumes generally longer than the empty, unawned or with a straight, terminal awn.

From Project Gutenberg

Chaff, small membranous scales or bracts on the receptacle of Composit�; the glumes, &c., of grasses.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• chaff
• pod
• rind