(n) any of several tropical annual climbers having large yellow flowers and edible young fruits; grown commercially for the mature fruit's dried fibrous interior that is used as a sponge, Syn. rag gourd, strainer vine, dishcloth gourd, sponge gourd
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English (GCIDE) v.0.53 Collaborative International Dictionary (GCIDE)
2. That through which any liquid is passed for purification or to separate it from solid matter; anything, as a screen or a cloth, used to strain a liquid; a device of the character of a sieve or of a filter; specifically, an openwork or perforated screen, as for the end of the suction pipe of a pump, to prevent large solid bodies from entering with a liquid. [ 1913 Webster ]
[みずきり, mizukiri] (n, vs) (1) drainer; strainer; colander; (2) cutwater; forefoot; flashing; throating; (3) (playing) ducks and drakes; stone skipping; skipping rocks; (4) snipping the stem of a cut flower without raising it out of water
[ざる, zaru] (n) (1) (uk) draining basket (traditionally made of bamboo); colander; strainer; sieve; (2) (abbr) (uk) (See ざる蕎麦) zaru soba (soba served on a bamboo draining basket with dipping sauce); (3) (col) (uk) strong drinker; someone who can drink like a fish