wheat

[ weet, hweet ]

noun

1. the grain of any cereal grass of the genus Triticum, especially T. aestivum, used in the form of flour for making bread, cakes, etc., and for other culinary and nutritional purposes.
2. the plant itself.

wheat

/ wiːt /

noun

1. any annual or biennial grass of the genus Triticum, native to the Mediterranean region and W Asia but widely cultivated, having erect flower spikes and light brown grains
2. the grain of any of these grasses, used in making flour, pasta, etc

Other Words From

• wheat·less adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of wheat¹

before 900; Middle English whete, Old English hwǣte; cognate with German Weizen, Old Norse hveiti, Gothic hwaiteis; akin to white

Word History and Origins

Origin of wheat¹

Old English hwǣte, related to Old Frisian, Old Saxon hwēti, Old High German hweizi, Old Norse hveiti; see white

Example Sentences

Folic acid is to be added to non-wholemeal wheat flour in the UK to help prevent birth defects.

From BBC

He added, "Soybeans are a legume that contains a great deal of protein. Soybeans are 40% protein, while wheat is only 10%. Therefore, the more soybeans you use, the more protein you have."

From Salon

These crops include staples like rice, wheat, and corn that make up a good chunk of the world's calories.

From Salon

Pioneers of the genre such as Agnes Denes, who once transformed a Manhattan landfill into a wondrous urban wheat field, and Helène Aylon, who commemorated the end of the Cold War with anti-nuclear performance art, are absent.

From Los Angeles Times

Matt Cooley, a second-generation farmer of walnuts, tomatoes, sunflowers, wheat and alfalfa, decided to grow a few pumpkins for Halloween and sell them by the side of the road.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• cereal
• grass