boiler

American  

[boi-ler] / ˈbɔɪ lər /

noun

1. a closed vessel or arrangement of vessels and tubes, together with a furnace or other heat source, in which steam or other vapor is generated from water to drive turbines or engines, supply heat, process certain materials, etc.

2. a vessel, as a kettle, for boiling or heating.

3. British. a large tub in which laundry is boiled or sterilized.

4. a tank in which water is heated and stored, as for supplying hot water.

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boiler British  

/ ˈbɔɪlə /

noun

1. a closed vessel or arrangement of enclosed tubes in which water is heated to supply steam to drive an engine or turbine or provide heat

2. a domestic device burning solid fuel, gas, or oil, to provide hot water, esp for central heating

3. a large tub for boiling laundry

4. a tough old chicken for cooking by boiling

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Other Word Forms

• boilerless
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of boiler

First recorded in 1530–40; boil ¹ + -er ¹

Example Sentences

The property’s boiler shot enormous pressure through the complex’s 60-year-old pipes.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 1, 2026

They decided they could not afford the increase, so as spring came, they switched the oil boiler off.

From BBC • Apr. 22, 2026

Across the UK, 1.5m homes are heated by oil, usually a kind of kerosene burned in a boiler to heat water for radiators and hot water.

From BBC • Apr. 22, 2026

On the Chesapeake Bay, market hunters favored punt guns—cannons weighing up to 200 pounds, with barrels made from boiler pipe—that could bring down 100 ducks with one shot.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026

Sam Malloy crawled out of the boiler and sat on his wood block and looked at the lightening east.

From "Cannery Row" by John Steinbeck

Related Words

• heater
• heating system
• incinerator
• kiln
• stove