It often refers to something small and granular, like:
* Granular: Having a grainy texture.
* Granulate: To form into grains or granules.
* Granule: A small grain or particle.
However, the root "gran" can also be used in other contexts, where it might not directly refer to grains:
* Grand: Magnificent, impressive, or large in scale. This comes from the Latin "grandis", which means "large" or "great."
* Grandeur: Splendor and impressiveness. Again, it comes from "grandis".
Therefore, the meaning of "gran" can be slightly different depending on the word it's in. It's important to consider the context and the full word to understand the intended meaning.