The ear or head of a cereal plant (e.g., rice or wheat) — the spike or inflorescence bearing the grains.
秋になると田んぼの稲穂が黄金色に輝く。
In autumn, the rice ears in the fields gleam golden.
風が吹くと麦の穂がさわさわと揺れた。
When the wind blew, the wheat ears rustled.
収穫の時期には穂を丁寧に扱う必要がある。
During harvest season, you need to handle the ears carefully.
The tip or point of something (e.g., the point of a brush, spear, or any spike-like end).
絵筆の穂を水でよく洗ってから使いなさい。
Wash the tip of the paintbrush in water well before using it.
矛の穂がわずかに曲がっているのに気づいた。
I noticed that the spear's tip was slightly bent.
この筆は細い線を書くのに穂がちょうどいい。
This brush's tip is just right for drawing thin lines.
The crest of a wave — the highest, raised part of a wave on water.
沖に出ると白い穂が波の頂に見えた。
Out at sea I saw white crests on the tops of the waves.
強風で海は荒れ、穂が立っていた。
The strong wind made the sea rough, with crests standing up.
The scion used in grafting — the cutting or shoot (the 'ear' or tip) used when grafting plants.
果樹の接ぎ木では丈夫な穂を選ぶことが重要だ。
In grafting fruit trees, it's important to choose a strong scion.
温室で穂を育てて、春に接ぎ木を行った。
We raised scions in the greenhouse and grafted them in spring.