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

In 2017, he began incorporating beads and Korean fabric — including funeral shrouds — into his paintings, giving the flat canvases, which he likens to rice paper, a new dimension.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 10, 2023

Lampshades were fashioned from accordion-folded drafting paper or Japanese rice paper lanterns.

From New York Times ● Oct. 10, 2021

The wings themselves were finer than the finest rice paper, and yet they were strong.

From "Dragonwings" by Laurence Yep