ear of rice; head of rice
Refers specifically to the grain-bearing part of a rice plant. Common in agricultural, seasonal, and poetic contexts.
秋になると、田んぼの稲穂が黄金色に輝く。
In autumn, the ears of rice in the paddies shine golden.
In autumn, the ears of rice ripen to a golden color.
I took a walk while watching the ears of rice swaying in the wind.
重く実った稲穂が垂れている。
The ears of rice, heavy with grain, are drooping.
The ears of rice in the rice field are swaying in the wind.
穂 is the general word for an ear of grain (wheat, barley, etc.), while 稲穂 specifies the ear of rice.
稲穂 is the everyday word for an ear of rice, while 瑞穂 is a poetic, elevated term stressing freshness and lushness, mainly seen in classical or literary contexts.
Standard kanji spelling; the reading いなほ is unambiguous.
Compound of 稲 (いな, 'rice plant') and 穂 (ほ, 'ear of grain'). The reading いなほ is a straightforward combination of the two kun'yomi.