evaporative cooler

[ ih-vap-er-uh-tiv koo-ler ]

noun

1. a device that cools the air in a room or building through the evaporation of water, which displaces the ambient hot air and provides a steady flow of fresh air:

   Our evaporative coolers work great here in Nevada, but I’m afraid where you live in the Northeast it’s just too humid for effective evaporation.

Word History and Origins

Origin of evaporative cooler¹

First recorded in 1880–85