noun
colander
KAH-luhn-dur/ˈkɑːləndər/
A bowl with small holes used to drain liquid from food.
She drains the cooked pasta in a colander over the sink.
Etymology
Colander probably comes from Latin colatorium, a strainer: a vessel that lets liquid pass while retaining solids. That practical function remains the defining feature of the kitchen bowl.
In context
instead of putting it down the drain with our colander we're going to save that pasta water
More examples
- Rinse the berries in a colander under cold water.
- The rice slips through the colander's large holes.
- We keep two colanders in the cabinet beside the sink.
Forms
colander · colanders
Similar words
- strainer
- A broader term for tools that separate solids from liquids.
- sieve
- Usually has fine mesh for straining liquids or sifting powders.