n. & v. n. 1 a swamp grass, Oryza sativa, cultivated in marshes, esp. in Asia. 2 the grains of this, used as cereal food.
v.tr. US sieve (cooked potatoes etc.) into thin strings. rice-bowl an area producing much rice. rice-paper edible paper made from the pith of an oriental tree and used for painting and in cookery. ricer n.
[ ME rys f. OF ris f. It. riso, ult. f. Gk oruza, of oriental orig. ]