rice paper

noun

1

: a thin papery material made from the pith of a small Asian tree or shrub (Tetrapanax papyriferum) of the ginseng family

also : a thin paper made from various usually Asian plants (such as the paper mulberry)

2

: a paper-thin sheet of dough made from rice flour and tapioca that is usually used to wrap a filling (as of minced vegetables or ground meat)

Ground pork, carrots, onions and cellophane noodles are wrapped so that the green vegetables show through the translucent white rice paper.

—Donna Hilts

Examples of rice paper in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The bowl includes a side caddy to store rice paper sheets. —Naz Deravian, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Mar. 2024

While actual rice paper is edible and used in many Asian dishes, rolling papers do not contain rice or its fibers but rather wood pulp. —Harrison Bard, Rolling Stone, 1 Mar. 2024

Slice fresh veggies, tofu, and mint and roll it up in rice paper. —Wini Moranville, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Dec. 2023

Porter had brought rice paper disks kids could dip in food coloring to make interesting patterns. —John Kelly, Washington Post, 15 Nov. 2023

Sliding walls with windows covered in rice paper and glass opened to reveal exquisite gardens, enjoyed only by visiting dignitaries who entered through their own special gate. —Jeanette Marantos, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2023

Another solution is to use rice paper or wooden screens as room dividers. —Maggie Gillette, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Oct. 2023

The same goes for her rice paper egg rolls and chicken porridge videos. —Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2023

Water Lantern Festival at National Harbor As soon as the sky over National Harbor dims, participants in the Water Lantern Festival will launch thousands of glowing lanterns made of wood, rice paper and reusable LED candles into the Potomac River. —Chris Kelly, Washington Post, 3 Aug. 2023

Word History

Etymology

from its resemblance to paper made from rice straw

First Known Use

1810, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

rice paper

noun

: a thin papery material made from the spongy inner part of the stem of an Asian shrub or small tree related to the ginseng