Colander - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

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SKIP TO CONTENT colander /ˈkɑlɪndər/ /ˈkɒlɪndə/ IPA guide

Other forms: colanders

Most cooks would agree that a colander is an essential piece of equipment for even the most basic kitchen. It's a bowl, usually made of plastic or metal, with holes in it to allow liquid to drain away from the food.

Colanders are used for draining anything — for instance, if you're washing fruit, a colander would make the job quick and easy. If you're cooking pasta, you toss the pasta into a pot of boiling water, then when it's cooked, you pour the contents of the pot through a colander, and what's left behind in the colander, drained and ready to eat, is the pasta.

Definitions of colander

noun bowl-shaped strainer; used to wash or drain foods synonyms: cullender see moresee less type of: strainer a filter to retain larger pieces while smaller pieces and liquids pass through

Pronunciation US /ˈkɑlɪndər/ UK /ˈkɒlɪndə/ Cite this entry Style: MLA

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Copy citation DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘colander'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback Word Family

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