grāmen, inis, n. Sanscr. root gar-, to swallow; Gr. βορ- in βιβρώσκω, βορά; Lat. -vorus, in carnivorus, vorare, etc.; hence, fuller root gras-; Gr. γράστις; Lat. grāmen for gras-men; cf. Germ. Gras; Engl. grass, grass (cf.: herba, faenum, cespes, glaeba). Sing.: prostrati in gramine molli, Lucr. 2, 29; 5, 1392; Hor. Epod. 2, 24: cervus graminis immemor, id. C. 1, 15, 30: aprici campi, id. A. P. 162: graminis herba, a blade of grass, Verg. E. 5, 26; Liv. 1, 24, 5: floreum, flowery turf, Mart. 9, 91, 1: generosum, Juv. 12, 40: quocumque de gramine (equus), pasture, id. 8, 60.

— Plur.: tondere gramina, Lucr. 2, 660; Hor. C. 4, 7, 1; 4, 1, 39; Verg. E. 10, 29; id. G. 1, 56; 2, 200 et saep.

— Transf., a plant, herb. In gen.: ignobile cerinthae, Verg. G. 4, 63: Indum, Indian aromatic herbs, Stat. S. 2, 1, 187; cf.: Arabum de gramine odores, Prop. 2, 29 (3, 27), 17; Quint. 5, 8, 1: non illa feris incognita capris Gramina (i. e. dictamnus), Verg. A. 12, 415: neve parum valeant a se data gramina, Ov. M. 7, 137 (for which: accepit cantatas herbas, id. ib. 7, 98).

— In partic., dog's-grass, couch-grass, Plin. 24, 19, 118, § 178 sq.