noun
colander
KUL-uhn-duhr
Colander (noun) means a bowl-shaped kitchen container full of holes, used for draining water off food such as pasta, rice or washed vegetables. Example: “Tip the pasta into a colander and let it drain for a minute.”
noun
1
A bowl-shaped kitchen container full of holes, used for draining water off food such as pasta, rice or washed vegetables.
"Tip the pasta into a colander and let it drain for a minute."
"He rinsed the strawberries in a plastic colander under the tap."
"An electric fire came next, followed by an umbrella and then a colander. "This bowl will carry no water," he muttered. "Some loon hath pierced it with holes.""
— Richard Carpenter, Catweazle and the Magic Zodiac (1971)
How to use colander
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe bowl with holes you drain pasta in.
When to use it
Neutral, everyday kitchen vocabulary.
Memory tip
Colander is spelled with an o and two a's — think of a COLander for COLd water.
Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
Common pairings
drain in a colander
tip into a colander
metal colander
colander of vegetables
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Fill the gap
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Tip the pasta into a _____ and let it drain for a minute.
Etymology
From Medieval Latin colatorium 'a strainer', from Latin colare 'to strain, to filter', which comes from colum 'a sieve'.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for colander
See all rhymes for colander →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a colander and a sieve?
A colander has large holes and a bowl shape and is built for draining liquid away from solid food such as pasta. A sieve has a fine mesh and is for separating small particles, straining stock or sifting flour, so it will hold back things a colander lets straight through.
How do you pronounce colander?
The usual pronunciation is KUL-uhn-duhr, with the first syllable sounding like 'cull'. A spelling pronunciation with 'col' as in 'collar' is also widely accepted.
Why is it spelled colander and not calendar?
They are unrelated words. Colander comes from Latin colare, meaning to strain, while calendar comes from Latin kalendae, the first day of the Roman month.
What is the meaning of colander?
"colander" (noun) means a bowl-shaped kitchen container full of holes, used for draining water off food such as pasta, rice or washed vegetables.
