ce·re·al (sîr'ē-əl)
n.

1. 1. A grass such as wheat, oats, or corn, the starchy grains of which are used as food.
   2. The grain of such a grass.
2. Any of several other plants or their edible seed or fruit, such as buckwheat or grain amaranth.
3. A food prepared from any of these plants, especially a breakfast food made from commercially processed grain.

adj.
Consisting of or relating to grain or to a plant producing grain.

[From Latin cereālis, of grain, from Cerēs, Ceres.]

---

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

---