grainy
UK: ˈɡreɪni | US: ˈɡreɪni
adj. having a rough or granular texture
adj. resembling or containing small grains or particles
adj. (of a photograph or video) appearing coarse or pixelated
The word "grainy" combines "grain," derived from Old French "grein" (seed or small particle), with the suffix "-y," which forms adjectives meaning "characterized by" or "full of." Originally, "grain" referred to seeds or cereal crops, but its meaning expanded to include any small, granular particles. The suffix "-y" (from Old English "-ig") is a productive morpheme in English, often used to describe textures or qualities (e.g., "sandy," "fuzzy"). Thus, "grainy" logically evolved to describe surfaces or visuals resembling or composed of tiny grains.
The old photograph looked grainy after being enlarged.
The sandpaper felt rough and grainy to the touch.
The video quality was grainy due to poor lighting.
She disliked the grainy texture of the homemade almond milk.
The artist used a grainy effect to create a vintage feel in the painting.