rice blast: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2 / Very Low Frequency (Specialist Technical Term)Technical/Scientific, Agricultural, Academic
Quick answer
What does “rice blast” mean?
A serious fungal disease of rice plants caused by the pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae, characterized by lesions on leaves, stems, and panicles.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A serious fungal disease of rice plants caused by the pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae, characterized by lesions on leaves, stems, and panicles.
By extension, can refer to the catastrophic impact of the disease on rice agriculture, leading to significant crop loss and economic damage. It is a major subject of study in phytopathology and agricultural science.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Spelling conventions (e.g., 'fungus' vs. 'fungus') follow standard BrE/AmE patterns in surrounding text.
Connotations
Identical negative connotation as a destructive plant disease.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both dialects, confined to specialized contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “rice blast” in a Sentence
The [region] suffered from rice blast.Scientists are developing [adjective] varieties resistant to rice blast.Rice blast is caused by [Magnaporthe oryzae].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “rice blast” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The field was severely blasted.
American English
- The crop got blasted last season.
adjective
British English
- blast-resistant rice varieties
- blast-affected regions
American English
- blast-resistant rice cultivars
- blast-susceptible plants
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Discussed in agricultural commodities reports, insurance assessments, and biotech company portfolios focused on crop protection.
Academic
A central topic in plant pathology, genetics (for resistance breeding), mycology, and sustainable agriculture research papers.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation outside of farming communities in affected regions.
Technical
The precise term used in agricultural extension services, plant clinic diagnoses, scientific literature, and pesticide labels.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “rice blast”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “rice blast”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “rice blast”
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'The field rice blasted'). Incorrect.
- Confusing it with 'rice blight', which is a different disease.
- Capitalising it as a proper name (Rice Blast) unless starting a sentence.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, rice blast is a disease that affects the rice plant itself. It does not infect humans, but it can cause significant food insecurity and economic loss by destroying the crop.
It is managed rather than cured. Strategies include using fungicides, planting resistant rice varieties, altering planting times, and managing water and fertilizer use to reduce favourable conditions for the fungus.
It is a global disease but is particularly destructive in the major rice-growing regions of Asia, Latin America, and parts of Africa, where environmental conditions are often ideal for the fungus.
In plant pathology, 'blast' describes a symptom where plant tissues appear burnt or blighted as if hit by a sudden, violent attack (like a blast of wind or fire), which describes the rapid and damaging lesions caused by this fungus.
A serious fungal disease of rice plants caused by the pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae, characterized by lesions on leaves, stems, and panicles.
Rice blast is usually technical/scientific, agricultural, academic in register.
Rice blast: in British English it is pronounced /ˈraɪs ˌblɑːst/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈraɪs ˌblæst/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a **blast** of wind spreading fungal spores that **rice** fields can't withstand.
Conceptual Metaphor
DISEASE IS AN INVADING FORCE / DESTRUCTIVE EVENT (The 'blast' implies a sudden, explosive onset of damage).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the term 'rice blast' most likely be used?