wheat

noun

ˈ(h)wēt How to pronounce wheat (audio)
often attributive
1
: a cereal grain that yields a fine white flour used chiefly in breads, baked goods (such as cakes and crackers), and pastas (such as macaroni or spaghetti), and is important in animal feeds
2
: any of various Old World annual grasses (genus Triticum, especially T. aestivum and T. turgidum) of wide climatic adaptability that are cultivated in most temperate areas for the wheat they yield
3
: a light yellow

Examples of wheat in a Sentence

a turkey sandwich on wheat
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Indian atta is stone-ground, meaning the wheat kernels are crushed between millstones into a fine powder. — Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appétit, 13 Mar. 2025 Pani puri consists of small hollow spheres made with either wheat or semolina flour and filled with curry-spiced chickpeas and potatoes, which are often mashed into a chunky paste. — Kaitlyn Rosati, New York Daily News, 12 Mar. 2025 In response, Beijing announced 15% tariffs on imports of American chicken, wheat, corn and cotton, as well as 10% on sorghum, soybeans, pork, beef, aquatic products, fruits, vegetables, and dairy products. — Charlie Campbell, TIME, 5 Mar. 2025 China responded with up to 15% in extra tariffs on a wide range of farm products from the United States, including chicken, wheat and corn. — Hannah Poukish, Sacramento Bee, 5 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for wheat

Word History

Etymology

Middle English whete, going back to Old English hwǣte, going back to Germanic *hwaitja- (whence also Old Frisian wēt "wheat," Old Saxon hwēti, Middle Dutch weit, weite, Old High German hweizi, weizi, Old Icelandic hveiti, Gothic ƕaiteis "cereal grain"), collective derivative from the stem of *hwīta- white entry 1; probably so called from the light color of the ripe ears or the flour made from it

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of wheat was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing wheat

Rhymes for wheat

See All Rhymes for wheat

Browse Nearby Words

wheat
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Cite this Entry

“Wheat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wheat. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

wheat

noun
ˈhwēt How to pronounce wheat (audio)
ˈwēt
1
: a cereal grain that can be made into a fine white flour used mostly in breads, baked goods (as cakes and crackers), and pastas (as macaroni or spaghetti) and that is used in animal feeds
2
: any of a genus of grasses grown in most temperate areas for the wheat they produce
especially : a grass with long dense flower spikes and white to dark red grains that is the chief source of wheat and is known only in cultivation

More from Merriam-Webster on wheat

Nglish: Translation of wheat for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about wheat

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