rice paper

American  

[rahys pey-per] / ˈraɪs ˌpeɪ pər /

noun

1. a Chinese or Japanese paper made from the pith of the rice-paper tree or certain other plants, cut and pressed into thin sheets.

   a watercolor painting on rice paper.

2. a thin paper made from the straw of the rice plant, as in China.

3. (in Southeast Asian cuisine) an almost translucent sheet made from a dough of rice flour and water, used for wrapping spring rolls and other foods.

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rice paper British  

noun

1. a thin semitransparent edible paper made from the straw of rice, on which macaroons and similar cakes are baked

2. a thin delicate Chinese paper made from an araliaceous plant, Tetrapanax papyriferum ( rice-paper plant ) of Taiwan, the pith of which is pared and flattened into sheets

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Etymology

Origin of rice paper

First recorded in 1810–15

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

rice paper

All my spices and rice paper noodles; canned goods, condiments, vinegars, oils.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 11, 2026

The wedding took place while he was on leave from the army; wartime shortages meant they had rice paper rather than icing on the cake.

From BBC ● Nov. 8, 2024

Above us hang paper lanterns, uchiwa fans, rice paper scrolls and bamboo parasols.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 22, 2022

The reinvented approach begins much like Vietnamese fresh spring rolls: with a stack of dried rice paper wraps and a dish of hot water for soaking.

From Salon ● Jul. 8, 2021

Then he saw Grandmother’s stern face, her skin as thin as rice paper, her white hair spread across her pillpw.

From "The Son of Neptune" by Rick Riordan