Rind
/raɪnd/
nounA2
Definition
A rind is the tough or thick outer part of something, like the skin of a watermelon, the peel of an orange, or the hard outer layer of some cheeses. It protects the inside part and is often different in texture or color from the inside.
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See It in Action
The tough outer skin of some fruits and vegetables
- •The orange has a thick rind that is often used for zest in recipes.
- •Be careful not to eat the rind of the watermelon; it is hard and not tasty.
- •The lemon rind smells very fresh and citrusy.
The hard outer layer of some cheeses
- •Some cheeses have a white rind that you can eat or sometimes peel off.
- •The cheese rind gives flavor and protects the soft inside.
- •Blue cheese has a strong-smelling rind that some people like.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "rind" like "skin," but usually thicker and harder, not soft like human skin
- ✓Picture holding a watermelon: the green outside part you touch is the rind, different from the red juicy inside
- ✓It’s like the shell of a turtle but for fruits or cheese—it keeps the inside safe
- ✓Sounds like "rind" → imagine a ring (like a circle) around the fruit that holds everything inside
- ✓Remember the rind of a lemon that smells strong and is used for flavor in cooking
- ✓NOT like "peel" (which is usually soft and easy to remove), rind is often thicker and tougher
- ✓NOT like "shell" (which is hard and usually animal-related), rind is plant or food-related protective layer
- ✓NOT like "flesh" (the soft inside part), rind is always the outside covering
Try Other Words
- •Peel: the outer layer you can usually remove easily (Use when the outer layer is soft and easy to take off, like a banana peel)
- •Shell: a hard protective outer layer, often for animals or nuts (Use when referring to animals or hard nuts, not fruits or cheese)
- •Crust: the hard outer part of bread or pizza (Use when talking about baked goods, not fruits or cheese)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "rind" is a simple root word with no prefix or suffix
- •Etymology: From Old English "rind" meaning bark or outer layer of a tree or plant
- •Historical development: Originally used for tree bark, then extended to mean outer layers of fruits and cheeses
- •Modern usage: Commonly used to describe the tough outer skin of fruits, vegetables, and cheeses in everyday language
Reflect & Connect
•Can you think of foods you eat where the rind is important for taste or protection? How do you use or remove it?
•How does the rind help the fruit or cheese stay fresh or safe from damage?
Fill in the blanks
1.The watermelon’s rind is thick and green, so you need a knife to ___ it before eating.
2.Lemon rind is often grated to add ___ to cakes and drinks.
3.Unlike the soft inside, the rind of the cheese is usually ___ and sometimes has a strong smell.
4.You should not eat the rind of some fruits because it can be ___ or bitter.
5.The rind acts as a ___ to protect the juicy inside from damage or insects.
6.When making marmalade, people often use the orange rind because it has a lot of ___.
7.Some cheeses have edible rind that adds ___ to the flavor experience.