What does strainer mean?
Word: Strainer
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Strainer means a kitchen tool full of tiny holes that lets liquid pass through but catches the solid bits, such as tea leaves.
Synonyms: sieve
How do you spell strainer?
Syllables: strain - er
Tricky part: Strainer is strain + er. The ai of strain is often written as a (straner), and the ending is sometimes written ar.
Watch out for: straner, strainar, streiner
Memory tip: A strainer is the tool that does the straining. Write strain first, then put er on the end, the way a cleaner is someone who cleans.
Strainer in a sentence
Example 1: Mummy poured the hot tea through a strainer to catch the leaves.
Example 2: Wash the lentils in a strainer before cooking them.
Example 3: Our steel strainer has a long handle.
Fun Fact
Tea bags only caught on in the twentieth century. Before that, tea was brewed from loose leaves, and a strainer held the leaves back as the tea was poured.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Champ
Choose the correct word for the blank:
Neha drained the boiled noodles in a ______ before adding the sauce.
a) scanner
b) sprinkler
c) stapler
d) strainer
Show answer
d) strainer. Noodles are drained in a strainer, which lets the water run out.
Spell Spies
Choose the option with no spelling errors:
a) strainer, laddle, grater, kettel
b) strainer, ladel, gratter, kettle
c) strainer, ladle, grayter, ketle
d) strainer, ladle, grater, kettle
Show answer
d) strainer, ladle, grater, kettle. Ladle ends in le, grater has one t and kettle has a double t.
Sound Check
Which of the following words rhymes with strainer?
a) printer
b) trainer
c) steamer
d) stranger
Show answer
b) trainer. Trainer has the same ay sound and the same ending as strainer.
Spellacadabra
From which option does a letter need to be removed to make a meaningful word?
a) colander
b) strainner
c) teapot
d) saucepan
Show answer
b) strainner. Strainer has a single n before the er; the second n has to go.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Why does a strainer have tiny holes?
a) so it weighs less to lift
b) so it keeps food hot
c) so it floats in a pot
d) so water can drain away
Show answer
d) so water can drain away
2. Which of these is NOT usually done with a strainer?
a) draining pasta
b) rinsing rice
c) sifting flour
d) chopping onions
Show answer
d) chopping onions
