ingrain

[ verb in-greyn; adjective noun in-greyn ]

verb (used with object)

1. to implant or fix deeply and firmly, as in the nature or mind.

   Synonyms: imbue, inculcate, infuse

adjective

1. ingrained; firmly fixed.
2. (of fiber or yarn) dyed in a raw state, before being woven or knitted.
3. made of fiber or yarn so dyed:

   ingrain fabric.

4. (of carpets) made of ingrain yarn and so woven as to show a different pattern on each side; reversible.

noun

1. yarn, wool, etc., dyed before manufacture.
2. an ingrain carpet.

ingrain

verb

1. to impress deeply on the mind or nature; instil
2. archaic.
   to dye into the fibre of (a fabric)

adjective

1. variants of ingrained
2. (of woven or knitted articles, esp rugs and carpets) made of dyed yarn or of fibre that is dyed before being spun into yarn

noun

1. 1. a carpet made from ingrained yarn
   2. such yarn

Word History and Origins

Origin of ingrain¹

First recorded in 1760–70; originally phrase (dyed) in grain (i.e., with kermes)

Word History and Origins

Origin of ingrain¹

C18: from the phrase dyed in grain dyed with kermes through the fibre

Example Sentences

It’s gotten to the point that deep dish, like the “The Bean” and Chicago’s unforgiving wind, have been ingrained in people’s minds as a Chicago staple, even though it’s not.

From Ozy

That change ingrains the memory and lets us keep memories we recall more often, while others fade.

From Quanta Magazine

For direct-to-consumer brands, skepticism of Amazon is ingrained into them from launch.

From Digiday

Bars and restaurants are ingrained in our national culture and history.

From Fortune

Also, the idea of skincare as self-care has now been ingrained into our minds.

From Fortune

Whereupon Mufty, finding himself dropped upon the coldly unsympathetic ingrain carpet, desisted from further encouraging remarks.

From Project Gutenberg

But I never can—I'm like him, every one says so, and he says the heedlessness is ingrain, and can't be got rid of.

From Project Gutenberg

Between the pews, in the aisle, the violent vermilion of a strip of ingrain carpet assaulted the eye.

From Project Gutenberg

On the floor was a much used and faded ingrain carpet, in one place worn through by the edge of a loose board.

From Project Gutenberg

She felt her feet sink luxuriously into the rugs, oh, so different from the threadbare ingrain carpet at home!

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• instill