refrigerator
ri-FRIJ-uh-rey-ter
/rɪˈfrɪdʒəreɪtər/
A large electrical appliance used to keep food and drinks cold and fresh.
Refers specifically to the main cooling compartment, though in casual speech it often encompasses the entire unit including the freezer.
The story behind the word. Derived from the Latin verb refrigerare, meaning 'to make cold again,' which itself comes from frigus (cold). In the 17th century, it referred to any vessel or room used for cooling, long before electric cooling systems were invented.
Word relationships
- fridge: A highly common, informal abbreviation used in daily conversation.
- icebox: An older term referring to non-electric, ice-cooled boxes, now used occasionally as slang.
- oven: An appliance used for heating and cooking food rather than cooling it.
Commonly confused with
- freezer: A refrigerator keeps food cold but above freezing, while a freezer keeps food frozen solid.
Word family
- refrigerate (verb): To make or keep cold.
- refrigeration (noun): The process of cooling or keeping cold.
Collocations
- stainless-steel refrigerator
- stock the refrigerator
- refrigerator door
Example sentences
- "Please put the milk back in the refrigerator so it does not spoil." A practical tip for kitchen organization.
- "The invention of the domestic refrigerator completely revolutionized how families shop for and store fresh produce." An observation on modern food preservation.
Memory hook
Think of a 'fridge' keeping things 'frigid' (extremely cold). Keep it frigid in the fridge.
When not to use
Do not use when referring specifically to the freezing compartment, which is the freezer.
Fun facts
- Before electric refrigerators, people used 'icehouses' packed with winter ice and straw to keep food cold through the summer.
Related words
Explore more words
refreshments, water cooler, thermostat, locker, appetizer, compartment
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