colander

noun

col·​an·​der ˈkä-lən-dər  ˈkə- 

: a perforated utensil for washing or draining food

Examples of colander in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Clean the sink, faucet, counters, cutting boards and fridge drawers or shelves beforehand, and use clean knives, peelers and colanders, especially after prepping raw meat, poultry or seafood. — Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Nov. 2026

Delicate produce like raspberries, blueberries, herbs and soft tomatoes can bruise under aggressive scrubbing, so University of Minnesota Extension suggests turning them gently in a colander while spraying them with cool water. — Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 2026

With a slotted spoon or skimmer, remove the grapefruit sections to a strainer or colander and rinse under cold running water for 2 minutes. — Jeffrey Steingarten, Vogue, 25 Oct. 2026

The only problem is… that entire plan has more holes that a freakin’ colander. — Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English colyndore, probably modification of Old Occitan colador, from Medieval Latin colatorium, from Latin colare to sieve, from colum sieve

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for colander

• solander

Kids Definition

colander

noun

col·​an·​der ˈkəl-ən-dər  ˈkäl- 

: a utensil with small holes for draining food