Refrigerator
rɪˈfrɪdʒəˌreɪtər
Definitions
A device or compartment used to keep food and drinks cold, preventing spoilage.
rɪˈfrɪdʒəˌreɪtər
A household appliance for preserving food at low temperatures.
She opened the refrigerator to grab a cold drink.
💡 Simply: It's like a super-powered cooler box that lives in your kitchen! It keeps your milk, veggies, and leftovers nice and cold so they don't go bad. Imagine it as a food's best friend!
👶 For kids: A fridge is a box that keeps your food cold so it doesn't get yucky.
More Examples
Make sure you put the milk back in the refrigerator.
The vegetables are stored in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator.
How It's Used
"I put the leftovers in the refrigerator."
"The restaurant's refrigerators keep the food fresh."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
From Medieval Latin *refrīgerātor*, from *refrīgerāre* ('to cool, refrigerate'), from Latin *frīgus* ('cold'). Evolved in the late 19th century with the invention of mechanical refrigeration.
The term 'refrigerator' gained popularity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, coinciding with the widespread adoption of mechanical refrigeration technology. Before this, iceboxes were used.
Memory tip
Think of a cold friend who keeps things cool: the refrigerator!
Word Origin
"to make cold"