WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025in•grain
(v. in grān′;adj., n. in′grān′),USA pronunciation v.t.
- to implant or fix deeply and firmly, as in the nature or mind.
adj.
- ingrained;
firmly fixed.
- Textiles(of fiber or yarn) dyed in a raw state, before being woven or knitted.
- Textilesmade of fiber or yarn so dyed:ingrain fabric.
- Textiles(of carpets) made of ingrain yarn and so woven as to show a different pattern on each side;
reversible.
n.
- Textilesyarn, wool, etc., dyed before manufacture.
- Textilesan ingrain carpet.
Also, engrain (for defs. 1, 2).
- origin, originally phrase (dyed) in grain (i.e., with kermes) 1760–70
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged infuse, inculcate, imbue.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
ingrain, engrain / ɪnˈɡreɪn/(transitive)- to impress deeply on the mind or nature; instil
- to dye into the fibre of (a fabric)
/ ˈɪnˌɡreɪn/- variants of ingrained
- (of woven or knitted articles, esp rugs and carpets) made of dyed yarn or of fibre that is dyed before being spun into yarn
/ ˈɪnˌɡreɪn/- a carpet made from ingrained yarn
Etymology: 18th Century: from the phrase dyed in grain dyed with kermes through the fibre
'ingrain' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):