Cereal

Definition

Cereal refers to the edible grains of certain grasses cultivated for their starchy seeds, and to the processed breakfast foods made from these grains. Its plural form is cereals.

Parts of Speech

• Noun
• Adjective

Pronunciation

American English

• IPA: /ˈsɪəriəl/
• Respelling: SEER-ee-uhl

British English

• IPA: /ˈsɪəriəl/
• Respelling: SEER-ee-uhl

Etymology

Late 18th century: from French céréal (adjective), from Latin Cerēālis “of Ceres,” the Roman goddess of agriculture.

Derivatives

• cerealize (verb)
• cerealization (noun)
• cerealist (noun, rare)

Synonyms

• grain
• cereal grain
• muesli (for breakfast cereal)
• granola (for breakfast cereal)

Antonyms

• none (for the noun sense)

Usage

"She poured milk over her cereal every morning."

"Barley and oats are two important cereals grown in temperate climates."

Related Terms

• Grain: The seed of a cereal grass.
• Porridge: Hot cereal made by boiling grains in water or milk.
• Muesli: A mixture of raw oats, nuts, and dried fruit.
• Granola: Baked mixture of oats, honey, and nuts.
• Harvest: The gathering of mature crops.

Detailed Definitions

Noun

• Edible starchy grains of cultivated grasses – seeds such as wheat, rice, oats, barley, or maize used as staple foods.
  • Example: "Rice and corn are the world’s most produced cereals."
• Processed breakfast food made from grains – flakes, puffs, or granules of cereal grains often eaten with milk.
  • Example: "Children often choose sweetened cereals for breakfast."

Adjective

• Relating to cereal crops or grains – describing agricultural products or practices involving cereals.
  • Example: "The region’s cereal production increased this year."