bowl

A bowl is a round, deep dish or vessel with a concave interior that a person uses to hold food, liquids, or other contents. It typically has a wider opening than its base and may stand on a foot or small pedestal to raise it from a surface. Shapes vary from nearly hemispherical to flatter or wider-rimmed forms, and sizes span from small condiment bowls to large serving bowls.

Bowls are used for eating, serving, preparing, and mixing. Common materials include ceramic, porcelain, glass, metal, wood, and plastic. They are employed for a wide range of foods such as soup, cereal, fruit, salad, rice, and noodles, as well as for combining ingredients in cooking and baking. Design features can affect handling, stability, and airflow to contents.

Common types include soup bowls, cereal bowls, rice bowls, dessert bowls, mixing bowls, and pet bowls. Some bowls are designed with a specific cuisine or use in mind, such as ramen bowls or miso soup bowls, which may feature generous interiors and wide rims for easy slurping or serving.

Etymology and culture: the term bowl comes from Old English bolla or related Germanic forms, reflecting a long history of open, rounded vessels. In various cultures, bowls have ceremonial or practical significance, including alms bowls used by Buddhist monks.

Other uses: in sports and games, the word bowl appears in phrases such as bowl games in American college football and in the verb to bowl, meaning to deliver or roll a ball in certain sports.