Definition

Noun: A small, portable heating or cooking device that burns a volatile liquid fuel, such as denatured alcohol (methylated spirits) or ethanol, to produce a flame.

Usage

A spirit stove is used for heating food or liquids, typically in situations where a full kitchen is not available, such as while camping, traveling, or in small living spaces. It is valued for its simplicity, portability, and relatively clean-burning fuel.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The hiker boiled water for tea on a compact spirit stove.
  • Before the advent of propane, many explorers relied on a spirit stove for cooking in the field.
  • The antique spirit stove was made of brass and folded neatly into its own case.

Advanced Usage

• Historical Context: The spirit stove was particularly common in the late 19th and early 20th centuries for travel, scientific expeditions, and domestic use before modern gas stoves became widespread.
• Technical Operation: It operates by vaporizing the liquid fuel, often using a wick or a pre-heating cup, to create a steady, adjustable flame.

Variants and Related Words

• Camp stove: A broader term for portable stoves, which can include spirit stoves, gas stoves, and solid fuel stoves.
• Alcohol stove: A more specific synonym for a spirit stove, emphasizing the type of fuel used.
• Trangia stove: A brand name that has become somewhat generic for a particular type of efficient, wind-protected spirit stove system.

Synonyms

• Alcohol burner
• Alcohol stove
• Portable cooker (when context specifies liquid fuel)

Related Phrases/Idioms

There are no common idioms or phrasal verbs specifically using the term "spirit stove."

Noun

1. a stove that burns a volatile liquid fuel such as alcohol