Definition

Noun: 1. A sealed metal vessel in which water is heated to produce steam, typically under pressure, for use in power generation, heating systems, or industrial processes. 2. A large, strong container for boiling liquids, such as water for domestic hot water supply or for cooking.

Usage and Examples

• Industrial/Heating Context: The primary modern use refers to a device for generating steam or hot water.
  • The factory's power comes from a steam turbine driven by a large boiler.
  • We need to repair the central heating boiler before winter.
• Domestic/Household Context: Often refers to the appliance that provides hot water for taps and radiators.
  • The boiler in the basement supplies hot water to the entire apartment building.
• Cooking/Historical Context: A large pot for boiling.
  • (Historical) They cooked the laundry in a copper boiler over an open fire.

Advanced Usage and Nuances

• "Boiler room": A room in a building where boilers are housed. Figuratively, it can refer to a high-pressure telemarketing or sales operation.
  • The engineers inspected the boiler room.
• "Boilerplate": (Derived from 'boiler') Standardized, generic text that can be reused in documents like contracts or press releases without significant change.
  • The legal contract contained a lot of boilerplate language.

Variants and Related Words

• Boil (verb): To heat a liquid until it bubbles and turns to vapor.
• Boilerplate (noun): Standardized text or code.
• Boiler suit (noun, chiefly British): A one-piece protective garment worn for manual work.
• Steam boiler (noun phrase): A type of boiler specifically designed to produce steam.

Synonyms

• Steam generator
• Heater (in the context of hot water systems)
• Vessel (in an industrial/engineering context)
• Kettle (for very large, old-fashioned versions, or in specific industrial processes)

Idioms and Fixed Phrases

• To blow/burst a boiler: (Literal) For a boiler to explode due to excessive pressure. (Figurative, informal) To fail completely, to have a breakdown, or to become very angry.
  • The old steam engine blew its boiler.
  • When he heard the news, he just about burst his boiler with rage.

Noun

1. a metal pot for stewing or boiling; usually has a lid
2. sealed vessel where water is converted to steam