RADIATOR

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does radiator mean? 

• RADIATOR (noun)
  The noun RADIATOR has 3 senses:

1. any object that radiates energy

2. heater consisting of a series of pipes for circulating steam or hot water to heat rooms or buildings

3. a mechanism consisting of a metal honeycomb through which hot fluids circulate; heat is transferred from the fluid through the honeycomb to the airstream that is created either by the motion of the vehicle or by a fan

  Familiarity information: RADIATOR used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• RADIATOR (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Any object that radiates energy

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural objects (not man-made)

Hypernyms ("radiator" is a kind of...):

natural object (an object occurring naturally; not made by man)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "radiator"):

radio source (an object that radiates radio waves)

Derivation:

radiate (issue or emerge in rays or waves)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Heater consisting of a series of pipes for circulating steam or hot water to heat rooms or buildings

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("radiator" is a kind of...):

heater; warmer (device that heats water or supplies warmth to a room)

Holonyms ("radiator" is a part of...):

heat; heating; heating plant; heating system (utility to warm a building)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A mechanism consisting of a metal honeycomb through which hot fluids circulate; heat is transferred from the fluid through the honeycomb to the airstream that is created either by the motion of the vehicle or by a fan

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("radiator" is a kind of...):

mechanism (device consisting of a piece of machinery; has moving parts that perform some function)

Meronyms (parts of "radiator"):

radiator cap (cap on the opening in the top of a radiator through which a coolant liquid can be added)

Holonyms ("radiator" is a part of...):

cooling system; engine cooling system (equipment in a motor vehicle that cools the engine)

 Context examples 

If he talks of a radiator it is a battleship, of an oil pump a cruiser, and so on.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Don't use a heating pad, heat lamp, or the heat of a stove, fireplace, or radiator for warming. Since frostbite makes an area numb, you could burn it.

(Frostbite, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)