rice

noun \ ˈrīs \

|Updated on: 1 Aug 2018

Definition of rice

: the starchy seeds of an annual southeast Asian cereal grass (Oryza sativa) that are cooked and used for food; also : this cereal grass that is widely cultivated in warm climates for its seeds and by-products — compare wild rice

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Examples of rice in a Sentence

Rice is the main crop of the country.

Recent Examples of rice from the Web

The wine also adds a lovely aroma and flavor to the rice.

— jennifer rude klett, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Table for 1: For solo diners, cooking at home offers many perks," 12 July 2018
But everything else about that dish clicked — the plump scallops, perfectly sauteed; the lovely rice and vegetables.

— tim smith, baltimoresun.com, "Miku Sushi and Steakhouse a pleasant haven in Cockeysville," 12 July 2018
Pour the wild rice into the oil and turn off the heat (the rice will start puffing immediately).

— sarah fritsche, SFChronicle.com, "Recipe: The Shed’s Cabbage Salad With Nam Prik, Pea Shoots, Puffed Rice & Radish," 3 July 2018
The menu is extensive and varied, and many of the proteins feature some sort of gravy or sauce that lends itself to paring with the rice.

— larry olmsted, USA TODAY, "Where to try Hawaiian plate lunches on the mainland," 28 June 2018
The quality of the rice and saffron were memorable for me.

— kara baskin, BostonGlobe.com, "Yousef Ghalaini’s love of cooking started in his grandpa’s bakery in Lebanon," 26 June 2018
So does the top-notch wine selection, the Parmigiano-Reggiano and aged carnaroli rice.

— stan parish, WSJ, "‘Go Beyond Sushi’: Tokyo’s Culinary Gems," 19 June 2018
Power Menu Burrito With Chicken: Order it with extra pico de gallo, extra romaine, regular guac, cheese, and beans; skip the rice and add chicken, onions, tomatoes, salsa, and jalapenos.

— jaclyn london, ms, rd, cdn, Good Housekeeping, "Is Taco Bell Healthy? "Live Mas" With These 7 Smart Orders," 19 June 2018
Wrapped in bamboo or lotus leaves, the rice is mixed with flavors that vary by region.

— casey quackenbush, Time, "Here's What to Know About Asia's Annual Dragon Boat Festival," 18 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'rice.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Illustration of rice

Origin and Etymology of rice

Middle English rys, from Anglo-French ris, from Old Italian riso, from Greek oryza, oryzon, of Iranian origin; akin to Pashto wriže rice; akin to Sanskrit vrīhi rice

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First Known Use: 13th century

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