Meaning & use
husk
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Meanings
nouncountable
The dry outer layer that covers some seeds, grains, or fruits.
Grammar: Countable: you can say a husk or husks.
Patterns
- the husk of something
- remove the husk
- husks of grain
The husk of the coconut is very tough.
Rice comes with a husk that must be removed before cooking.
We fed the corn husks to the animals.
verbtransitive
To remove the dry outer covering from seeds, grains, or fruits.
Grammar: Takes an object: husk the corn.
Patterns
- husk something
- husk corn
- husk rice
They husked the corn before boiling it.
Farmers husk the rice by hand in some regions.
She husked the coconuts to get to the white meat inside.
Word forms
| plural | husks |
|---|---|
| third person singular | husks |
| past tense | husked |
| past participle | husked |
| -ing form | husking |
Common combinations
- rice husk
- Rice husks can be used as fuel.
- corn husk
- The corn husks are usually removed before cooking.
- husk something by hand
- They husked the coconuts by hand.
- remove the husk
- You need to remove the husk before eating the fruit.
Synonyms and how they differ
- shell
- A shell is a hard outer case, like an eggshell or nutshell, while a husk is dry and leaf-like.
- pod
- A pod is a seed container that splits open, like a pea pod, not a dry outer layer.
- hull
- A hull is the outer covering of a seed or fruit, often removed by threshing; similar to husk but used for different plants.
Word family
- husker noun
- A person or machine that removes husks.
Commonly confused: husk or hush?
husk vs hush
Hush means to make someone quiet or a period of silence, while husk is the dry outer covering.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'husk' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Husk means to remove the dry outer covering, so it fits with corn. The other options confuse husk with hush (to quiet) or other verbs.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “husk”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.