Radiator
/ˈreɪdieɪtər/
Definitions
2 meaningsA device used to transfer heat, especially one that removes heat from an engine or that heats a room.
/ˈreɪdieɪtər/
A device for radiating heat.
The mechanic checked the car's radiator for leaks.
💡 Simply: Imagine a car's engine getting too hot, like you after running around! The radiator is like a giant sponge that soaks up that heat and keeps the car cool. In your house, a radiator is like a hot friend that keeps the room warm.
👶 For kids: A radiator is something that gets hot to warm up a room or cool down a car's engine.
More Examples
The old radiator hissed as it heated up the room.
Make sure the radiator is filled with coolant to prevent engine damage.
How It's Used
"The car's radiator helps to keep the engine from overheating."
"The old radiator in the living room was replaced with a more efficient model."
Something that emits or radiates energy or something else, such as heat or radiation.
/ˈreɪdieɪtər/
Something that radiates or emits something else.
The supernova was a powerful radiator of energy across the galaxy.
💡 Simply: Imagine someone who always seems to be giving off a good feeling. They're a radiator, always sharing positivity! Or, in science, some things like black holes, are radiators of energy.
👶 For kids: A radiator can be something that gives off heat or light, like a light bulb or a sunny person who shares good feelings.
More Examples
His smile was a radiator of happiness, brightening everyone's day.
A radio is a radiator of electromagnetic waves.
How It's Used
"A black hole is a strong radiator of Hawking radiation."
"She was a radiator of warmth and positivity to everyone she met."
From Medieval Latin *radiator*, from *radiatus* (radiate), from *radius* (ray). Originally referring to devices that radiate heat.
The term *radiator* began to be used widely in the late 19th and early 20th centuries with the advent of steam heating systems and early automobiles.
Memory tip
Think of how the sun *radiates* heat; a radiator does the same for engines or rooms.
Word Origin
"ray, beam, spoke of a wheel"