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colander
/ˈkɒl.ən.dər/
kitchen strainer
She rinsed the pasta in the colander to drain the water.
The example shows the colander being used to drain liquid from cooked pasta.
technical
A perforated bowl used to drain food such as pasta or to rinse vegetables.
Place the boiled potatoes in the colander to let the water run off.
The colander allows excess water to drain away from the potatoes.
Use a colander to wash the berries thoroughly before eating.
The colander helps remove dirt or debris from the fruit.
Colanders have holes or slits to allow liquid to pass through while keeping solids contained.
Collocations
rinse in a colanderwash using a colanderdrain in a colanderremove liquid via colander
Synonyms
Pro Tip
Distinguish colander from sieve
A colander has larger holes and is bowl-shaped, while a sieve has finer mesh and is often flat-bottomed. Use a colander for draining large items like pasta, and a sieve for sifting flour or rinsing small grains.
Gold Rule
When to use a colander
Use a colander for solids that need to be separated from liquid (e.g., draining noodles), and a sieve for separating fine particles from a mixture (e.g., sifting powdered sugar).
Word Origin
From Middle English *colour*, from Old French *coulour* (modern *couloir*, meaning 'to strain'), from Latin *colare* ('to filter, strain').
Usage Notes
Colanders are typically made of metal or plastic and are essential in kitchens for tasks like draining pasta or washing greens. They differ from sieves in having larger holes and being bowl-shaped.
Word Breakdown
col-
from Latin *colare* ('to filter')
root-ander
suffix forming nouns of instrument
suffixEnglish Dictionary