Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
Rice \Rice\, n. [F. riz (cf. Pr. ris, It. riso), L. oryza, Gr.
???, ???, probably from the Persian; cf. OPers. br[=i]zi,
akin to Skr. vr[=i]hi; or perh. akin to E. rye. Cf. {Rye}.]
(Bot.)
A well-known cereal grass ({Oryza sativa}) and its seed. This
plant is extensively cultivated in warm climates, and the
grain forms a large portion of the food of the inhabitants.
In America it grows chiefly on low, moist land, which can be
overflowed.
{Ant rice}. (Bot.) See under {Ant}.
{French rice}. (Bot.) See {Amelcorn}.
{Indian rice}., a tall reedlike water grass ({Zizania
aquatica}), bearing panicles of a long, slender grain,
much used for food by North American Indians. It is common
in shallow water in the Northern States. Called also
{water oat}, {Canadian wild rice}, etc.
{Mountain rice}, any species of an American genus
({Oryzopsis}) of grasses, somewhat resembling rice.
{Rice bunting}. (Zo["o]l.) Same as {Ricebird}.
{Rice hen} (Zo["o]l.), the Florida gallinule.
{Rice mouse} (Zo["o]l.), a large dark-colored field mouse
({Calomys palistris}) of the Southern United States.
{Rice paper}, a kind of thin, delicate paper, brought from
China, -- used for painting upon, and for the manufacture
of fancy articles. It is made by cutting the pith of a
large herb ({Fatsia papyrifera}, related to the ginseng)
into one roll or sheet, which is flattened out under
pressure. Called also {pith paper}.
{Rice troupial} (Zo["o]l.), the bobolink.
{Rice water}, a drink for invalids made by boiling a small
quantity of rice in water.
{Rice-water discharge} (Med.), a liquid, resembling rice
water in appearance, which is vomited, and discharged from
the bowels, in cholera.
{Rice weevil} (Zo["o]l.), a small beetle ({Calandra, or
Sitophilus, oryz[ae]}) which destroys rice, wheat, and
Indian corn by eating out the interior; -- called also
{black weevil}.
Ant \Ant\, n. [OE. ante, amete, emete, AS. [ae]mete akin to G.
ameise. Cf. {Emmet}.] (Zo["o]l.)
A hymenopterous insect of the Linn[ae]an genus {Formica},
which is now made a family of several genera; an emmet; a
pismire.
Note: Among ants, as among bees, there are neuter or working
ants, besides the males and females; the former are
without wings. Ants live together in swarms, usually
raising hillocks of earth, variously chambered within,
where they maintain a perfect system of order, store
their provisions, and nurture their young. There are
many species, with diverse habits, as agricultural
ants, carpenter ants, honey ants, foraging ants, amazon
ants, etc. The white ants or Termites belong to the
Neuroptera.
{Ant bird} (Zo["o]l.), one of a very extensive group of South
American birds ({Formicariid[ae]}), which live on ants.
The family includes many species, some of which are called
{ant shrikes}, {ant thrushes}, and {ant wrens}.
{Ant rice} (Bot.), a species of grass ({Aristida oligantha})
cultivated by the agricultural ants of Texas for the sake
of its seed.