Rice
Rice , noun
[French riz (compare Pr. ris, Italian riso), Latin oryza, Greek {not transcribed}, {not transcribed}, probably from the Persian; compare OPers. brīzi, akin to Sanskrit vrīhi; or perh. akin to English rye. Compare Rye.]
(Botany) A well-known cereal grass (Oryza sativa) and its seed. This plant is extensively cultivated in warm climates, and the grain forms a large portion of the food of the inhabitants. In America it grows chiefly on low, moist land, which can be overflowed.
Collocations (12)
Indian rice , a tall reedlike water grass (Zizania aquatica), bearing panicles of a long, slender grain, much used for food by North American Indians. It is common in shallow water in the Northern States. Called also water oat, Canadian wild rice, etc.
Mountain rice , any species of an American genus (Oryzopsis) of grasses, somewhat resembling rice.
Rice hen (Zoology) , the Florida gallinule.
Rice mouse (Zoology) , a large dark-colored field mouse (Calomys palistris) of the Southern United States.
Rice paper , a kind of thin, delicate paper, brought from China, -- used for painting upon, and for the manufacture of fancy articles. It is made by cutting the pith of a large herb (Fatsia papyrifera, related to the ginseng) into one roll or sheet, which is flattened out under pressure. Called also pith paper.
Rice troupial (Zoology) , the bobolink.
Rice water , a drink for invalids made by boiling a small quantity of rice in water.
Rice-water discharge (Medicine) , a liquid, resembling rice water in appearance, which is vomited, and discharged from the bowels, in cholera.
Rice weevil (Zoology) , a small beetle (Calandra oryzae, or Sitophilus oryzae) which destroys rice, wheat, and Indian corn by eating out the interior; -- called also black weevil.