glume

UK: /ɡluːm/ US: (glo̅o̅m)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

glume  (glo̅o̅m), n. [Bot.]

1. Botany one of the characteristic chafflike bracts of the inflorescence of grasses, sedges, etc., esp. one of the pair of bracts at the base of a spikelet.

• Latin glūma husk enclosing a cereal grain, probably equivalent. to glūb(ere) to strip the bark from + *-sma noun, nominal suffix
• 1570–80

glume′like′, adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

glume / ɡluːm/ noun

1. one of a pair of dry membranous bracts at the base of the spikelet of grasses

Etymology: 18th Century: from Latin glūma husk of corn; related to Latin glūbere to remove the bark from

gluˈmaceous adjective