Strainers are important kitchen tools that can be used to separate solids from liquids. There are many different types of strainers depending on the task at hand. Some common synonyms for strainers include sieves, filters, colanders, sifters, chinois, and mesh strainers. A sieve is a strainer with a mesh screen that provides a fine filter for particles. A filter is a strainer used to remove impurities from liquids, such as coffee or water. Colanders are strainers used to drain liquids off of foods such as pasta or vegetables, while sifters are used to remove lumps from dry ingredients. A chinois is a cone-shaped strainer used for making sauces, and mesh strainers are similar to sieves but have coarser screens.