rice

The word “rice” means a cereal grass grown widely in flooded paddies, or the starchy seeds it produces that are eaten as a staple food. In plain terms, the grain eaten around the world as a staple, or (as a verb) to mash food into rice-sized bits with a ricer.

“Rice” is pronounced rys (/ɹaɪs/ in IPA).

Here is “rice” used in a sentence: “We had steamed rice with the curry.”

Depending on how it is used, “rice” can be a noun and a verb.

The word “rice” comes from Old French. From Old French ris, ultimately traced back through Greek and Persian to an Eastern language, possibly Sanskrit or an early Dravidian source — reflecting how far the crop travelled before reaching English.

“Rice” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.

“Rice” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a cereal grass grown widely in flooded paddies, or the starchy seeds it produces that are eaten as a staple food.

Rice is grouped by grain length and processing. Long-grain varieties include basmati and jasmine; medium and short-grain types include arborio and sushi rice, each cooking to a different texture. Brown rice keeps its bran layer, while white rice is polished. There are also specialty kinds such as wild and red rice.

Rice is grown across warm, wet regions of the world, most heavily in Asia — including China, India, and Southeast Asia — where it is a dietary staple. It is typically cultivated in flooded fields called paddies, which suit the plant's need for water. It also grows in parts of Africa, the Americas, and Europe.

Rice is a useful source of energy from carbohydrates and is naturally gluten-free. Brown and whole grain rice keep more fiber and nutrients than polished white rice. As with any staple, portion size and what it is served with matter most. It can sit comfortably within a balanced diet.