noun
- bristle-like appendages found on the glumes of grass seeds and grains
Usage: botanical
Examples
- The barley grains had long awns that made them difficult to handle.
- Wheat varieties with awns are often more resistant to birds.
- The awns on the grass seeds helped them stick to animal fur for dispersal.
- Farmers sometimes prefer awnless varieties because the awns can irritate livestock.
- The sharp awns of wild barley can be problematic for grazing animals.
- Botanists use the presence or absence of awns to identify different grass species.