boiler

American  

[boi-ler] / ˈbɔɪ lər /

noun

boilers plural

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

Derived Forms

• boilerless
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• boilers
  plural

Etymology

Origin of boiler

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

Example Sentences

Another six were pictured on a counter with the Police Scotland production label stating they were found in a drawer under the boiler.

From BBC • Jun. 23, 2026

Quasar alleges the encampment damaged the boiler and created the crisis.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 1, 2026

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

From The Wall Street Journal • May 1, 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

I ran for the boiler room hatch, when suddenly my feet weren’t touching the deck anymore.

From "The Sea of Monsters" by Rick Riordan

Related Words

• heater
• heating system
• incinerator
• kiln
• stove