microplane

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A kitchen tool with very small, sharp cutting edges, used for making fine shreds of hard food or citrus peel.

   Grammar: Countable: a microplane, two microplanes. Often used with the: grate it with the microplane.

   Patterns

   • a microplane grater
   • use a microplane to do something
   • grate something with a microplane

   I use a microplane to add lemon zest to the cake batter.

   A microplane makes very fine shreds of Parmesan in seconds.

   She bought a microplane because her box grater was too coarse for nutmeg.

2. 2verbtransitiveinformal

   To shred a food very finely using a microplane or a similar fine grater.

   Grammar: Takes an object: microplane the garlic. Often in recipes as an instruction.

   Patterns

   • microplane something
   • microplane something into something
   • finely microplaned

   Microplane the ginger into the sauce so it melts in.

   The recipe says to microplane the chocolate over the dessert.

   He microplaned some lime peel into the cocktail.

Word forms

Common combinations

microplane grater

A microplane grater is perfect for hard cheese.

use a microplane

Use a microplane to zest the orange.

fine microplane

This fine microplane turns nuts into powder.

microplane zest

The microplane zest is so light it almost floats.

clean the microplane

Clean the microplane right after using it.

Synonyms and how they differ

fine grater

A general term for any grater with small holes; a microplane is a specific type with very sharp, tiny teeth.

zester

A tool mainly for removing citrus peel; a microplane can also grate hard foods like cheese and nutmeg.

rasp

A woodworking tool with a similar rough surface; not used for food.

Word family

microplaning noun

The act of using a microplane to shred food finely.

Commonly confused: microplane or microplane?

Practice

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