microwave
MAHY-kruh-weyv
/ˈmaɪkrəˌweɪv/
An oven that uses electromagnetic waves to cook or heat food rapidly.
As a noun, it refers to the appliance; as a verb, it means to cook or heat food using this appliance.
The story behind the word. Coined in the 1930s by combining the Greek prefix micro- (meaning small) with the English word wave. The appliance itself was discovered accidentally by self-taught engineer Percy Spencer in 1945 while he was working on active radar sets.
Word relationships
- micro: An informal, less common abbreviation.
Commonly confused with
- oven: An oven uses thermal heat (gas or electric coils), while a microwave uses electromagnetic radiation to heat water molecules inside the food.
Word family
- microwavable (adjective): Suitable for cooking in a microwave.
Collocations
- microwave oven
- popcorn in the microwave
- microwave safe
Example sentences
- "You can microwave the leftover soup for two minutes to heat it up." A quick cooking instruction.
- "Never put metal foil inside the microwave, as it can cause dangerous sparks." A safety warning.
Memory hook
Think of tiny ('micro') electromagnetic 'waves' dancing around to heat your food. Micro waves make macro heat.
When not to use
Do not use when referring to a traditional convection or gas oven.
Fun facts
- The microwave was discovered when Percy Spencer noticed that a candy bar in his pocket had melted while he was standing near an active radar transmitter.
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