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

To rinse, simply place the quinoa in a fine-mesh sieve or colander (make sure the holes are small enough that the grains won’t fall through) and rinse under cool water for about 30 seconds. —Riley Wofford, Martha Stewart, 3 Feb. 2026

Transfer the grapes back to the colander, and rinse under cool running water. —Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Jan. 2026

Drain the peels in a colander, then spread them on a wire cooling rack and let sit 12 hours at room temperature to dry out a bit. —Gretchen McKay, Twin Cities, 30 Jan. 2026

Drain the berries in a colander in the sink, rinsing them with a light spray of running water. —Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 29 Jan. 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