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

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

Sliding walls with windows covered in rice paper and glass opened to reveal exquisite gardens, enjoyed only by visiting dignitaries who entered through their own special gate.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 20, 2023

Some of her work used Japanese rice paper, although she said she had never studied Japanese art in depth.

From New York Times • Feb. 2, 2023

She then enlisted my father—the family’s resident artist—to paint a series of orange flames on pieces of very thin rice paper, which, when backlit with a lightbulb, made for a half-convincing fire.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama