refrigerator

/ri'fridʤəreitə/
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refrigerator

A family places fresh groceries into the refrigerator.

Definition

Noun: 1. A household or commercial appliance used for keeping food and other perishable items cold: A refrigerator is an insulated compartment or cabinet that uses a refrigeration cycle to maintain a temperature below the ambient room temperature, preserving the freshness of its contents. 2. A device for cooling: In broader technical contexts, it can refer to any apparatus or system designed to produce and maintain a low-temperature environment.

Usage

The word "refrigerator" is a countable noun. It is commonly used in everyday contexts to refer to the kitchen appliance. It is often informally shortened to "fridge." * We need to buy milk; the refrigerator is almost empty. * Please put the leftovers in the refrigerator. * The laboratory stores the samples in a special refrigerator.

Examples
  • Basic Usage:
    • She opened the refrigerator to get a bottle of water.
    • Modern refrigerators are much more energy-efficient than older models.
  • Descriptive Usage:
    • The refrigerator hummed quietly in the corner of the kitchen.
    • They have a stainless steel refrigerator.
Advanced Usage
  • "Refrigerator magnet": A small decorative magnet designed to stick to the door of a refrigerator.
    • Their refrigerator door is covered with souvenirs and refrigerator magnets from their travels.
  • "Refrigerator mother" : A now-discredited term from mid-20th century psychology suggesting that a mother's emotional coldness could cause autism in her child.
    • The "refrigerator mother" theory has been thoroughly rejected by modern science.
Variants and Related Words
  • Fridge (n.): The common, informal short form of "refrigerator."
    • Is there any juice in the fridge?
  • Refrigerate (v.): To make or keep something cold or cool, especially in a refrigerator.
    • You should refrigerate this medicine after opening.
  • Refrigeration (n.): The process of cooling or freezing for preservation.
    • The invention of mechanical refrigeration changed food storage forever.
  • Refrigerant (n.): A substance used in a refrigeration cycle, such as a fluid that absorbs heat.
    • Newer refrigerators use environmentally friendly refrigerants.
Synonyms
  • Icebox (n.): An old-fashioned term for a refrigerator, originally a non-mechanical cabinet cooled by a block of ice.
  • Cooler (n.): A portable insulated container for keeping items cold, or a cold storage room. (Less specific than "refrigerator.")
  • Chiller (n.): Often used for commercial or industrial cooling units.
Related Phrases
  • "Refrigerator rights" : A concept describing the level of intimacy in a relationship where a person feels comfortable opening your refrigerator without asking permission.
    • We've been friends for so long that we have refrigerator rights at each other's homes.
refrigerator

A family places fresh groceries into the refrigerator.

Noun
  1. white goods in which food can be stored at low temperatures