# rice

/ˈɹaɪs/ (US) · /ɹˈaɪs/ (UK) · CEFR A1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/rice
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

small white or brown grains that come from a grass plant. It is a very common food that you boil in water to eat.

For teachers: the starchy seeds of an annual marsh grass, Oryza sativa, which serve as a primary food staple for a large portion of the world's population.

## Examples

- I usually eat rice with my dinner.
- The chef serves the spicy curry over a bed of steamed white rice to balance the heat.
- Global agricultural production relies heavily on the cultivation of rice, particularly in regions where monsoon rains provide the necessary irrigation for paddy fields.

## Usage notes

- Uncountable when referring to the food in general; countable only when referring to specific biological varieties or types.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.