Ant rice. (Bot.) See under Ant. --
French rice. (Bot.) See Amelcorn. --
Indian rice., a tall reedlike water grass (Zizania aquatica), bearing panicles of a long, slender grain, much used for food by North American Indians. It is common in shallow water in the Northern States. Called also water oat, Canadian wild rice, etc. --
Mountain rice, any species of an American genus (Oryzopsis) of grasses, somewhat resembling rice. --
Rice bunting. (Zool.) Same as Ricebird. --
Rice hen (Zool.), the Florida gallinule. --
Rice mouse (Zool.), a large dark-colored field mouse (Calomys palistris) of the Southern United States. --
Rice paper, a kind of thin, delicate paper, brought from China, -- used for painting upon, and for the manufacture of fancy articles. It is made by cutting the pith of a large herb (Fatsia papyrifera, related to the ginseng) into one roll or sheet, which is flattened out under pressure. Called also pith paper. --
Rice troupial (Zool.), the bobolink. --
Rice water, a drink for invalids made by boiling a small quantity of rice in water. --
Rice-water discharge (Med.), a liquid, resembling rice water in appearance, which is vomited, and discharged from the bowels, in cholera. --
Rice weevil (Zool.), a small beetle (Calandra oryzae, or Sitophilus oryzae) which destroys rice, wheat, and Indian corn by eating out the interior; -- called also black weevil. [ 1913 Webster ]

The rich [ person ] hath many friends. Prov. xiv. 20. [ 1913 Webster ]

As a thief, bent to unhoard the cash
Of some rich burgher. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Hence, in general, well supplied; abounding; abundant; copious; bountiful; as, a rich treasury; a rich entertainment; a rich crop. [ 1913 Webster ]

If life be short, it shall be glorious;
Each minute shall be rich in some great action. Rowe. [ 1913 Webster ]

The gorgeous East with richest hand
Showers on her kings barbaric pearl and gold. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Yielding large returns; productive or fertile; fruitful; as, rich soil or land; a rich mine. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Composed of valuable or costly materials or ingredients; procured at great outlay; highly valued; precious; sumptuous; costly; as, a rich dress; rich silk or fur; rich presents. [ 1913 Webster ]

Like to rich and various gems. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Abounding in agreeable or nutritive qualities; -- especially applied to articles of food or drink which are high-seasoned or abound in oleaginous ingredients, or are sweet, luscious, and high-flavored; as, a rich dish; rich cream or soup; rich pastry; rich wine or fruit. [ 1913 Webster ]

Sauces and rich spices are fetched from India. Baker. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Not faint or delicate; vivid; as, a rich color. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. Full of sweet and harmonius sounds; as, a rich voice; rich music. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. Abounding in beauty; gorgeous; as, a rich landscape; rich scenery. [ 1913 Webster ]

9. Abounding in humor; exciting amusement; entertaining; as, the scene was a rich one; a rich incident or character. [ Colloq. ] Thackeray. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Rich is sometimes used in the formation of self-explaining compounds; as, rich-fleeced, rich-jeweled, rich-laden, rich-stained. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Wealthy; affluent; opulent; ample; copious; abundant; plentiful; fruitful; costly; sumptuous; precious; generous; luscious. [ 1913 Webster ]

Riches do not consist in having more gold and silver, but in having more in proportion, than our neighbors. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which appears rich, sumptuous, precious, or the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

The riche of heaven's pavement, trodden gold. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Richesse, the older form of this word, was in the singular number. The form riches, however, is plural in appearance, and has now come to be used as a plural. [ 1913 Webster ]

Against the richesses of this world shall they have misease of poverty. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

In one hour so great riches is come to nought. Rev. xviii. 17. [ 1913 Webster ]

And for that riches where is my deserving? Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Wealth; opulence; affluence; wealthiness; richness; plenty; abundance. [ 1913 Webster ]

Some man desireth for to have richesse. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

The richesse of all heavenly grace. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]