colander
UK[ˈkʌl.ən.dər]US[ˈkɑː.lən.dər]
n
a bowl with many small holes in it, used for draining water from food, especially after washing or cooking it.
Etymology
the word 'colander' entered english in the 14th century from the anglo-norman 'colyndore' and old french 'colador'. these, in turn, derived from the medieval latin 'colatorium', a noun formed from the late latin verb 'colare', meaning 'to strain'. the ultimate source is the latin 'colum', meaning 'sieve' or 'strainer'. the word's journey reflects a straightforward borrowing of a tool's name, with its form gradually adapting to english phonology while its core function—straining liquids—remained unchanged from its latin origins.
Analysis
this word is a loanword with a tight, unanalyzable morphological structure in modern english. its components do not function as independent, meaning-bearing morphemes to contemporary learners.
Examples
rinse the pasta in a colander under cold water.
she used a colander to drain the canned beans.
the recipe instructs you to set the steamed vegetables aside in a colander to cool.