Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

defroster

American  
[dih-fraw-ster, -fros-ter] / dɪˈfrɔ stər, -ˈfrɒs tər /

noun

  • defrosters
    plural
  1. a person or thing that defrosts.

  2. especially British, demister. Also called defogger. a device for melting frost, ice, or condensation on a windshield or other window of an automobile, airplane, etc., by warming the window.


defroster British  
/ diːˈfrɒstə /

noun

  1. a device by which the de-icing process of a refrigerator is accelerated, usually by circulating the refrigerant without the expansion process

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms


Etymology

Origin of defroster

First recorded in 1925–30; defrost + -er 1


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

I said my goodbyes, brushed the snow off my mini-SUV and cranked up the defroster.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 22, 2023

The Corvette came with windshield defroster and cigarette lighter.

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 10, 2022

And just yesterday, Tesla also had to recall another 27,000 vehicles due to a faulty windshield defroster.

From The Verge ● Feb. 10, 2022

There are no dials or buttons to control the heat, air conditioning, wipers or defroster.

From Washington Times ● Jan. 11, 2020

When she was coming home in the rain on the expressway one night, the defroster conked out and the windshield fogged up.

From "Class Matters" by The New York Times

Without the center screen, the cars can lose rearview camera displays, settings that control windshield defrosters and indicators that say whether the cars are in drive, neutral and reverse.

From Seattle Times ● May 10, 2022

This also makes it harder for the driver to see warnings and controls for windshield defrosters, he said.

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 9, 2021

Printed electronics in cars are not new — they have long been used, for example, in windshield defrosters.

From New York Times ● Jun. 30, 2012

The pinstripes may actually be defrosters, like the ones on your rear window.

From New York Times ● Feb. 2, 2011

That prompted Chicago Daily News Columnist Robert J. Herguth to ask: "After 90 days, a sale on defrosters?"

From Time Magazine Archive

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

Get a word

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Just like flashcards, but way more fun

Don't take our word for it. Leave the boring studying behind and join VocabTrainer today. You'll learn even faster and never look back.

Take me to Vocabulary.com