rice

¹ American  

[rahys] / raɪs /

noun

1. the starchy seeds or grain of an annual marsh grass, Oryza sativa, cultivated in warm climates and used for food.

2. the grass itself.

3. a food that is chopped or otherwise processed to resemble rice (used in combination): sweet potato rice.

   cauliflower rice;

   sweet potato rice.

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verb (used with object)

riced, ricing

1. to reduce to a form resembling rice.

   to rice potatoes.

Rice ² American  

[rahys] / raɪs /

noun

1. Anne, 1941–2021, U.S. novelist.

2. Dan Daniel McLaren, 1823–1900, U.S. circus clown, circus owner, and Union patriot.

3. Elmer, 1892–1967, U.S. playwright.

4. Jerry Lee, born 1962, U.S. football player.

5. Grantland 1880–1954, U.S. journalist.

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rice ¹ British  

/ raɪs /

noun

1. an erect grass, Oryza sativa , that grows in East Asia on wet ground and has drooping flower spikes and yellow oblong edible grains that become white when polished

2. the grain of this plant

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verb

1. (tr) to sieve (potatoes or other vegetables) to a coarse mashed consistency, esp with a ricer

RICE ² British  

/ raɪs /

acronym

1. rest, ice, compression, elevation: the recommended procedure for controlling inflammation in injured limbs or joints

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Rice ³ British  

/ raɪs /

noun

1. Elmer , original name Elmer Reizenstein . 1892–1967, US dramatist. His plays include The Adding Machine (1923) and Street Scene (1929), which was made into a musical by Kurt Weill in 1947

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Etymology

Origin of rice

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English ris, rys, from Old French, from Italian riso, risi (in Medieval Latin risium ), from Medieval Greek orýzion, derivative of Greek óryza, from an Iranian language, e.g., Old Persian brizi, Pashto vrižē; akin to Sanskrit vrīhi-, perhaps ultimately of Dravidian origin

Example Sentences

Inflation risks have intensified, fanned by the significant increase in domestic petroleum prices and higher rice prices, said Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

Parum noted that farmers who plant crops such as corn, soy, rice and cotton have experienced nationwide losses of $90 billion since 2023.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 29, 2026

But after indulging in a few spoonfuls, my palate begged to differ, craving more in between bites of curried rice and meat.

From Salon • Mar. 28, 2026

On a journey from the country's largest city Yangon to the capital Naypyidaw AFP journalists sat in air-conditioned carriages full of travellers napping and sharing tea, fried rice and instant noodles.

From Barron's • Mar. 27, 2026

“It was quizzer, with one Z a blank and the other on a double-letter tile. And then you placed rice, using the R in quizzer.”

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam

Related Words

• bran
• corn
• grain
• wheat