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grain up

C1 neutral separable both
In simple words

To make a photo look grainy (like an old film photo), or for crops like wheat to grow their seeds.

Literal meaning: To increase the presence of grain in something.

Meanings

1 C1 neutral

In photography or digital editing, to add a grainy texture to an image for an artistic or film-like effect.

"She grained up the portrait in post-production to give it a vintage feel."

Grammar: separable
2 C1 neutral

In agriculture, for cereal crops to develop and fill with mature grain.

"The wheat is graining up well after the recent rain."

Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes

In photography/editing contexts, 'grain up' is used by photographers who want a film-aesthetic look in digital work. In agricultural contexts it refers to cereals filling with grain at maturity. Both uses are quite specialised and infrequent in general conversation.

Commonly used with

photo image filter crop wheat shot

Forms

Base
grain up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
grains up
he/she/it
Past simple
grained up
yesterday
Past participle
grained up
have + pp
-ing form
graining up
continuous

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