Wheat
Wheat is a grass widely cultivated for its seed, a cereal grain which is a worldwide staple food. The many species of wheat together make up the genus Triticum; the most widely grown is common wheat (T. aestivum).
The archaeological record suggests that wheat was first cultivated in the regions of the Fertile Crescent around 9600 BCE. Botanically, the wheat kernel is a type of fruit called a caryopsis.
Wheat is grown on more land area than any other food crop (220.4 million hectares, 2014). World trade in wheat is greater than for all other crops combined. In 2016, world production of wheat was 749 million tonnes, making it the second most-produced cereal after maize. Since 1960, world production of wheat and other grain crops has tripled and is expected to grow further through the middle of the 21st century. Global demand for wheat is increasing due to the unique viscoelastic and adhesive properties of gluten proteins, which facilitate the production of processed foods, whose consumption is increasing as a result of the worldwide industrialization process and the westernization of the diet.Wheat is an important source of carbohydrates. Globally, it is the leading source of vegetal protein in human food, having a protein content of about 13%, which is relatively high compared to other major cereals but relatively low in protein quality for supplying essential amino acids. When eaten as the whole grain, wheat is a source of multiple nutrients and dietary fiber.In a small part of the general population, gluten – the major part of wheat protein – can trigger coeliac disease, noncoeliac gluten sensitivity, gluten ataxia, and dermatitis herpetiformis.
Wheat (noun)
Any of several cereal grains, of the genus Triticum, that yields flour as used in bakery.
Wheat (noun)
A light brown colour, like that of wheat.
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Wheat (adjective)
Wheaten, of a light brown colour, like that of wheat.
Corn (noun)
The main cereal plant grown for its grain in a given region, such as oats in parts of Scotland and Ireland, and wheat or barley in England and Wales.
Corn (noun)
Maize, a grain crop of the species Zea mays.
Corn (noun)
A grain or seed, especially of a cereal crop.
“He paid her the nominal fee of two corns of barley.”
Corn (noun)
A small, hard particle.
Corn (noun)
A type of callus, usually on the feet or hands.
“clavus”
Corn (noun)
Something (e.g. acting, humour, music, or writing) which is deemed old-fashioned or intended to induce emotion.
Corn (noun)
A type of granular snow formed by repeated melting and re-freezing, often in mountain spring conditions.
“corn snow”
Corn (verb)
to granulate; to form a substance into grains
“to corn gunpowder”
Corn (verb)
to preserve using coarse salt, e.g. corned beef
Corn (verb)
to provide with corn (typically maize; or, in Scotland, oats) for feed
“Corn the horses.”
Corn (verb)
to render intoxicated
“ale strong enough to corn one”
Wheat (noun)
a cereal which is the most important kind grown in temperate countries, the grain of which is ground to make flour for bread, pasta, pastry, etc.
Wheat (noun)
the grain of wheat.
Corn (noun)
the chief cereal crop of a district, especially (in England) wheat or (in Scotland) oats
“fields of corn”
Corn (noun)
the grain of a cereal crop.
Corn (noun)
another term for maize
Corn (noun)
something banal or sentimental
“the film is pure corn”
Corn (noun)
a small, painful area of thickened skin on the foot, especially on the toes, caused by pressure.