radiator

American  

[rey-dee-ey-ter] / ˈreɪ diˌeɪ tər /

noun

1. a person or thing that radiates.

2. any of various heating devices, as a series or coil of pipes through which steam or hot water passes.

3. a device constructed from thin-walled tubes and metal fins, used for cooling circulating water, as in an automobile engine.

4. Radio. a transmitting antenna.

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radiator British  

/ ˈreɪdɪˌeɪtə /

noun

1. a device for heating a room, building, etc, consisting of a series of pipes through which hot water or steam passes

2. a device for cooling an internal-combustion engine, consisting of thin-walled tubes through which water passes. Heat is transferred from the water through the walls of the tubes to the airstream, which is created either by the motion of the vehicle or by a fan

3. an electric fire

4. electronics the part of an aerial or transmission line that radiates electromagnetic waves

5. an electric space heater

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radiator Scientific  

/ rā′dē-ā′tər /

1. A body that emits radiation. Radiators are commonly designed to transfer heat energy from one place to another, as in an automobile, in which the radiator cools the engine by transferring heat energy from the engine to the air, or in buildings, where radiators transfer heat energy from a furnace to the air and objects in the surrounding room.

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Etymology

Origin of radiator

First recorded in 1830–40; radiate + -or ²

Example Sentences

The charity Community Action Northumberland suggested switching to an oil-filled electric radiator or electric heater to help with costs.

From BBC

Installing one likely involves some new pipework, and often new radiators; it is not something you can just get one day when the gas boiler packs up.

From BBC

Every day, they have to switch on the generator, check the radiators and regularly clear snow from the road.

From The Wall Street Journal

It’s a bit early to be turning down the radiators, but it’s never too late to cut costs.

From MarketWatch

Dean Commodore publishes videos which help teach his nearly half a million followers on TikTok and Instagram how to perform tasks such as bleeding a radiator and hanging a mirror.

From BBC

Related Words

• boiler
• fastball
• furnace
• oven
• stove