radiator
RAY-dee-ay-ter
/ˈreɪ.di.eɪ.tɚ/
A heat exchanger used to cool internal combustion engines by passing hot liquid coolant through metal coils exposed to airflow.
Refers both to the car engine cooling device and to indoor heating units mounted on room walls.
The story behind the word. From Latin 'radiare' (to shine or emit rays). Early 19th-century inventors used the term for heat-emitting room heaters, and motor engineers adopted the design and name when automobiles needed efficient heat dissipation for internal combustion engines.
Word relationships
- heat exchanger: 'Heat exchanger' is the broad engineering term; 'radiator' is the specific automotive and domestic application.
Commonly confused with
- condenser: A radiator dissipates engine heat to air, while an A/C condenser turns gaseous refrigerant back into liquid.
Word family
- radiate (verb): to emit energy or heat in rays
- radiation (noun): emission of energy
Collocations
- radiator cap
- radiator hose
- radiator fluid
- flush the radiator
Example sentences
- "Steam billowed from under the hood when a rock punctured a hole in the car's radiator." Engine overheating emergency
- "Flushing the radiator every few years removes rust particles and prevents costly engine overheating." Maintenance advice
Memory hook
The RADIATOR RADIATES engine heat away into the passing air. Radiates heat out of the engine.
When not to use
Do not confuse with air conditioning condensers, which cool refrigerant rather than engine coolant.
Fun facts
- Early automobiles used honeycomb radiators made entirely of hand-soldered brass tubes, making them among the most expensive components on early cars.
Related words
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