Colanders are an essential kitchen tool used to drain liquids from solids such as pasta, vegetables, and fruits. Colander is also known as a strainer, sieve, or drainer. These synonyms are used interchangeably to describe the same kitchen tool. A mesh strainer is another synonym for a colander. It has different-sized holes and is often used for sifting ingredients like flour or powdered sugar. A chinois is a type of colander used mainly in classical French cooking and has very fine mesh that allows it to strain small particles from liquids such as sauces, broths, and soups. In summary, depending on the purpose, there are various synonyms for colanders that can serve the same function.