Illustration 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
riced; ricing; rices
: to finely chop or process (a food) so that it resembles rice
riced cauliflower
Grilled calamari is served over riced potatoes that melt in the mouth—
Mitch Frank
Mitch FrankRicing the spuds with the butter and cream, rather than mashing them, makes them light and airy, and gives you a completely different experience.—Yotam Ottolenghi
Yotam Ottolenghi
rest, ice, compression, elevation
Examples of rice in a Sentence
Noun
Rice is the main crop of the country.
Recent Examples on the WebTim Stevens, The Verge, 17 Nov. 2023
Find it on Amazon Strengthen Your Hair with Nutrient-Rich Rice Water
Improve your hair health with this nourishing rice water.
—Kathy Barr, Rolling Stone, 15 Nov. 2023
And many rice cookers can actually do a lot more than cook rice; plenty are bonafide multicookers with the capabilities of a slow cooker, pressure cooker, and food steamer all in one machine.
—Wilder Davies, Bon Appétit, 14 Nov. 2023
Try animal toasts Spread cream cheese on a slice of toasted bread or a rice cake.
—Michelle Crouch, Parents, 14 Nov. 2023
For this iconic dish, often cited as a staple in blogs about local food, rice is slowly simmered in a stock made with fish scraps and topped with fish filets cooked with butter and sage.
—Vittoria Traverso, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Nov. 2023
Unlike some countries, China does not require flour and rice to be supplemented with B1.
—Los Angeles Times, 7 Nov. 2023
Stocks of essential food in all of Gaza, including rice and vegetable oil, will be depleted in one to three days, the WFP said.
—NBC News, 7 Nov. 2023
Dressing with Dried Fruit, Toasted Almonds, and Coconut Dried fruits, nuts, and array of seasonings make this rice dressing stand out from the pack during holiday entertaining.
—Sunset Staff, Sunset Magazine, 2 Nov. 2023
Frank Vaisvilas, Journal Sentinel, 7 Sep. 2023
Prepare riced cauliflower according to package instructions.
—Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 15 Sep. 2023
Saffron appears everywhere from risotto Milanese and the bouillabaisse of Marseille to rice dishes across the Middle East and India, proof of both its desirability and its ability to grow in many parts of the world.
—Jane Black, WSJ, 16 Mar. 2022
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Noun
Goodyear, for example, is now using silica sourced from a rice processing byproduct called husk ash.
—Tim Stevens, The Verge, 17 Nov. 2023
Find it on Amazon Strengthen Your Hair with Nutrient-Rich Rice Water
Improve your hair health with this nourishing rice water.
—Kathy Barr, Rolling Stone, 15 Nov. 2023
And many rice cookers can actually do a lot more than cook rice; plenty are bonafide multicookers with the capabilities of a slow cooker, pressure cooker, and food steamer all in one machine.
—Wilder Davies, Bon Appétit, 14 Nov. 2023
Try animal toasts Spread cream cheese on a slice of toasted bread or a rice cake.
—Michelle Crouch, Parents, 14 Nov. 2023
For this iconic dish, often cited as a staple in blogs about local food, rice is slowly simmered in a stock made with fish scraps and topped with fish filets cooked with butter and sage.
—Vittoria Traverso, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Nov. 2023
Unlike some countries, China does not require flour and rice to be supplemented with B1.
—Los Angeles Times, 7 Nov. 2023
Stocks of essential food in all of Gaza, including rice and vegetable oil, will be depleted in one to three days, the WFP said.
—NBC News, 7 Nov. 2023
Dressing with Dried Fruit, Toasted Almonds, and Coconut Dried fruits, nuts, and array of seasonings make this rice dressing stand out from the pack during holiday entertaining.
—Sunset Staff, Sunset Magazine, 2 Nov. 2023
Verb
Connors said a majority of Bad River tribal members prefer ricing at Kakagon than off-reservation.
—Frank Vaisvilas, Journal Sentinel, 7 Sep. 2023
Prepare riced cauliflower according to package instructions.
—Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 15 Sep. 2023
Saffron appears everywhere from risotto Milanese and the bouillabaisse of Marseille to rice dishes across the Middle East and India, proof of both its desirability and its ability to grow in many parts of the world.
—Jane Black, WSJ, 16 Mar. 2022
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rice.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
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
First Known Use
Noun
13th century, in the meaning defined above
Verb
1904, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of rice was
in the 13th century
Phrases Containing rice
Dictionary Entries Near rice
Cite this Entry
“Rice.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rice. Accessed 2 Dec. 2023.
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Kids Definition
rice
noun1
: a southeast Asian grass widely grown in warm wet areas especially for its seeds which are used for food
2
: the seeds of rice
Medical Definition
RICE
abbreviation
rest, ice, compression, elevation
—used especially for the initial treatment of many usually minor sports-related injuries (as sprains)
Biographical Definition
Rice
2 of 2biographical name (2)
Elmer Leopold 1892–1967 originally Elmer Reizenstein American dramatist
More from Merriam-Webster on rice
Nglish: Translation of rice for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of rice for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about rice
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