wild rice

wild rice

noun

Definition of WILD RICE

: a tall aquatic North American perennial grass (Zizania aquatica) that yields an edible grain; also : the grain

First Known Use of WILD RICE

1748

Rhymes with WILD RICE

advice, allspice, black ice, Brandeis, bride-price, brown rice, concise, cut ice, cut-price, deice, device, dry ice, entice, excise, fried rice, list price, make nice, no dice, off-price, on ice, pack ice, precise, shelf ice, strike price, white rice

wild rice

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Coarse annual grass (Zizania aquatica, or Z. palustris) of the family Poaceae whose grain, now often considered a delicacy, has long been an important food of American Indians. Despite its name, the plant is not related to rice. Wild rice grows naturally in shallow water in marshes and along the shores of streams and lakes in north-central North America. Cultivated varieties are now grown in Minnesota and California. The plant, about 3–10 ft (1–3 m) tall, is topped with a large, open, flower cluster. The ripened grains, dark brown to purplish-black, are slender rods 0.4–0.8 in. (1–2 cm) long.