cooling tower

American  

noun

Energy.

1. a usually cylindrical structure, sometimes of very great size, in which heat is extracted from water that has been used for cooling, as in a nuclear reactor.

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cooling tower British  

noun

1. a tall hollow structure in which steam is condensed or water that is used as a coolant in some industrial process is allowed to cool for reuse by trickling down a surface

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Etymology

Origin of cooling tower

First recorded in 1900–05

Example Sentences

Chillers circulate water or another coolant through pipes to absorb heat, then transfer it to a cooling tower or other system to remove it.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 8, 2026

Remi shuffled to her feet, or tried to; the earthquake knocked her backward into a cooling tower.

From Slate • Jan. 27, 2024

The Detroit building had elevated Legionella levels in its rooftop cooling tower, kitchenettes and a holding facility.

From Washington Times • Sep. 21, 2023

To keep it cool on hot days, data centers need to pump in water — often to a cooling tower outside its warehouse-sized buildings.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 9, 2023

The engine room equipment will consist of two 175-ton high speed compressors, direct connected to two Simple Condensing Una-flow Engines; also two generators, two cooling tower water pumps, two air compressors, switchboard, etc.

From Manufacturing Cost Data on Artificial Ice by Luhr, Otto