icebox
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: 1. A refrigerator, especially an old-fashioned one that uses ice for cooling: A piece of household equipment, a cabinet or compartment, in which food and other perishable items are kept at low temperatures to preserve them. Historically, this term specifically referred to a non-mechanical cooling device that relied on a block of ice placed inside it.
Usage
- As a common noun: Refers to the appliance itself.
- Before modern refrigerators, every kitchen had an icebox.
- She took the milk out of the icebox.
Advanced Usage
- "icebox of a place" (informal/metaphorical): Used to describe a very cold room, building, or geographical location.
- After the heater broke, my apartment was an icebox.
- Northern Canada is the icebox of the continent.
Variants and Related Words
- Refrigerator (n): The modern, electrically powered appliance that performs the same function as an icebox. This is the more common contemporary term.
- Cooler (n): An insulated container for keeping food and drinks cool, often for picnics or outdoor events. It is portable, unlike a traditional icebox.
- Freezer (n): A compartment or separate appliance for storing frozen food at temperatures below 0°C (32°F).
Synonyms
- Refrigerator
- Cooler (in some contexts, especially for older or non-electric models)
- Chiller (less common)
Related Phrases/Idioms
- "Pie in the sky / Pie in the icebox" (playful variation): A humorous twist on the idiom "pie in the sky" (meaning an unrealistic hope or promise), suggesting a more practical, immediately available treat.
- Forget those unrealistic plans; I want something that's pie in the icebox.
- "Icebox cake": A type of no-bake dessert made by layering biscuits or wafers with whipped cream or pudding and then chilling it in the refrigerator until set.
- My grandmother's chocolate icebox cake is my favorite summer dessert.
Noun
- white goods in which food can be stored at low temperatures