colander
B2neutral, slightly formal in cooking contexts
Definition
Meaning
A bowl-shaped kitchen utensil with perforated holes, used for draining liquid from food.
Any sieve-like device for separating solids from liquids, or metaphorically, a porous structure allowing selective passage.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Strictly a noun. Implies drainage of liquids (water, oil) from solids (pasta, vegetables). Not used for sifting dry ingredients (that is a 'sieve' or 'strainer').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. 'Strainer' is a more general, commonly used synonym in AmE, but 'colander' is fully understood.
Connotations
Identical. Both denote the same common kitchen tool.
Frequency
Slightly more common in written/formal cooking instructions in both varieties. In casual AmE speech, 'that thing you drain pasta in' might precede 'colander'.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[verb] + colander (use, rinse, place, hold)colander + [prepositional phrase] (in the sink, over a bowl)[noun] + in/into + colander (pour the pasta, put the vegetables)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Memory like a colander (very forgetful, things pass through)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in manufacturing/sales of kitchenware.
Academic
Rare, possibly in materials science (perforation patterns) or historical domestic studies.
Everyday
Common in cooking and household contexts.
Technical
Used in food processing and industrial sieving contexts.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Wash the fruit in the colander.
- The colander is in the cupboard.
- After boiling the potatoes, drain them in a colander.
- She rinsed the beans under cold water using a plastic colander.
- Make sure the colander is securely positioned over the sink before you pour the pasta water out.
- A stainless steel colander is more durable than a plastic one.
- The chef demonstrated the proper technique for shaking a colander to ensure the greens were thoroughly dried.
- His argument was as full of holes as a colander, failing to hold water under scrutiny.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
A COLANDER has many HOLES; both words contain an 'O'.
Conceptual Metaphor
A COLANDER IS A SELECTIVE BARRIER (allowing wanted/unwanted elements to separate).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Not 'дуршлаг' in all contexts? The words are direct equivalents, but a Russian speaker might over-extend 'colander' to mean any sieve.
Common Mistakes
- Spelling: 'collander', 'collonder'. Pronunciation: /koʊˈlændər/. Using 'colander' to sift flour.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary function of a colander?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A colander is typically bowl-shaped with larger holes for draining liquids from cooked food (like pasta). A sieve has a finer mesh, often used for sifting dry ingredients (like flour) or straining finer particles from liquids.
No, 'colander' is strictly a noun. The action is 'to drain' or 'to strain' something in a colander.
Not effectively. The holes in a standard colander are too large for sifting dry powders; a fine-mesh sieve is the correct tool for that task.
Common materials include stainless steel, plastic, and silicone. Metal colanders are more durable and often used for hot foods, while plastic is lighter and cheaper.