Cereal, noun:
1. A type of grain typically cultivated for its edible seeds, characterized by its grass-like appearance, use in the production of foodstuffs, and often used as a staple crop. Common cereal grains include wheat, rice, maize (corn), oats, barley, and rye.
2. The edible seeds or grains of these plants, often processed and consumed as a food source after removal from the stalk, husk, or chaff. Cereal grains are widely used in various culinary applications, such as baking, brewing, and breakfast cereals.
3. A common form of breakfast food that consists of these processed grains, usually in a ready-to-eat dry form. Ready-to-eat breakfast cereals are typically consumed with milk, yogurt, or other toppings and commonly served early in the day as a convenient and nutritious meal option.
4. A cereal-based product, often enjoyed as a snack or served as a side dish, made from processed cereal grains that are typically shaped into small, bite-sized pieces. Examples include breakfast cereal bars, granola bars, and cereal snack mixes.
5. In botany, the grass family (Poaceae), of which cereal plants are a part, consisting of plants with narrow leaves, hollow stems, clustered flowers, and often bearing edible grains. Cereal plants are cultivated worldwide and are a vital source of sustenance and nutrition for human populations.
