Rice: meaning, definitions and examples

Use when specifically referring to the grain that is a staple food in many cultures. It often appears in meals, side dishes, and sushi.

• I made some fried rice for dinner
• Sushi is made with sticky rice

Use when discussing the broader category of small, hard seeds from plants such as wheat, barley, and rice. Often appears in contexts related to agriculture, food, and health.

• Whole grains are good for your health
• The farmer harvested the grains

Best when referring to breakfast foods like cornflakes or oats that are often eaten with milk.

• I had a bowl of cereal for breakfast
• Do you want some cereal with your milk?

This means removing liquid from food after boiling or cooking it, usually by pouring it through a colander or strainer.

• After boiling the pasta, drain it in a colander.
• Drain the beans before adding them to the salad.

This is used when you need to press something firmly, often to extract liquid from it, like squeezing a lemon or squeezing water out of a cloth.

• She squeezed the juice out of the lemon.
• He squeezed the water out of the cloth.