Rice is a grain. It is also considered a cereal grain.
Here's a more detailed explanation:
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What is a Grain? A grain is a small, hard seed, usually of a cereal plant. Grains are the edible parts of grasses, and they are a staple food for humans and livestock.
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What is a Cereal? The word "cereal" refers to edible grains produced by cultivated grasses belonging to the Poaceae family (also known as the grass family). Common examples include rice, wheat, corn (maize), oats, barley, sorghum, and rye.
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Rice as a Cereal Grain: Rice fits both definitions perfectly. It's a grain because it's a small, edible seed of a grass. It's a cereal because it comes from a cultivated grass (Oryza sativa or Oryza glaberrima) and is a staple food crop.
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In summary: Rice is a specific type of grain (a cereal grain). Think of "grain" as a broad category, and "cereal grain" as a more specific subcategory. Rice belongs to both.
