Definition

A tool used to separate solid pieces from liquid, often used in cooking to drain water from pasta or to filter out seeds from juice.

Example

I used a strainer to drain the pasta after boiling it.

Conversation

Hey, do you have a strainer I can borrow for dinner tonight?

Sure! I just used it yesterday for pasta.

Great! I need it to separate the veggies from the broth.

No problem, I’ll grab it for you right now.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Strainer → It is formed from "strain" (from Old French *estraindre*, meaning to draw tight or filter) and "-er" (meaning a person or thing that performs an action). A strainer is a device that filters or draws out liquid from solids.

Memory Tip

Think of a device that 'draws tight' ('strain') to separate liquids from solids — that's what a strainer does.

Visually Confused Words