radiator
gb/ɹˈeɪdiˌeɪtɚ/ us/ɹˈeɪdiˌeɪtɚ/
B1
English
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
entity
1
heater for a room
A metal heater that warms a room.
Usage pattern:
a radiator (in [place]); turn (the) radiator on/off; put [something] on the radiator
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes connect radiator with nuclear ‘radiation’; in everyday English it usually means a room heater or a car part.
Synonyms
heater (More general; a radiator is a specific kind of heater.)
Antonyms
air conditioner (Cools air rather than heating a room.)
Collocations
central-heating radiator
|electric radiator
|cast-iron radiator
|hot radiator
|cold radiator
|radiator valve
|radiator cover
|radiator heat
|turn the radiator on
|bleed the radiator
Themes
home
|daily_life
|housing
|heating
Examples
- The radiator in the bedroom stays cold, so the room never warms up.
- She put her wet gloves on the radiator to dry them faster.
- We turned the radiator down because the living room was too hot.
Learner examples
- The radiator is hot.
- Please turn on the radiator.
Noun
B2
entity
2
car engine cooling unit
A car part that helps stop the engine from overheating.
Usage pattern:
the car's radiator; a radiator leak; refill the radiator
Common mistake:
In cars, a radiator is for cooling, not heating; it cools the engine by cooling the liquid inside it.
Synonyms
coolant radiator (Same meaning, but less common; often used when contrasting with other radiators.)
Collocations
car radiator
|engine radiator
|radiator leak
|radiator fluid
|coolant in the radiator
|refill the radiator
|flush the radiator
|radiator fan
|radiator cap
|radiator hose
Themes
transport
|cars
|maintenance
Examples
- The car overheated because the radiator was leaking coolant.
- A mechanic flushed the radiator to remove rust and old antifreeze.
- Steam rose from the hood when the radiator hose burst.
Learner examples
- My car radiator is leaking.
- The engine is hot, so check the radiator.
Noun
technical
C1
entity
3
thing that gives off heat
Something made to release heat.
Usage pattern:
a radiator for [system/device]
Common mistake:
This broader technical sense is less common in everyday conversation than the home-heater and car-part senses.
Synonyms
heat sink (Usually in electronics; emphasizes drawing heat away into a larger body.)
Collocations
heat radiator
|thermal radiator
|radiator panel
|radiator surface
|high-efficiency radiator
|mount a radiator
|install a radiator
|radiator fins
Themes
science
|technology
Examples
- The designer added a larger radiator to help the unit shed heat more quickly.
- In the diagram, the radiator is the part that releases heat into the air.
- The new housing acts as a radiator, keeping internal temperatures stable.
Grammar
Dictionary form
radiator
IPA
GB/ɹˈeɪdiˌeɪtɚ/
US/ɹˈeɪdiˌeɪtɚ/
Syllables & stress
ra - di - at - or (4 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (ra)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: radiator
- Plural: radiators
Expressions
bleed the radiator
1/blˈid ðə ɹˈeɪdiˌeɪtɚ/
fixed phrase
release trapped air
To let air out so the radiator heats up.
Examples
- If the top stays cold, you may need to bleed the radiator.
- He bled the radiator with a key and a small towel to catch drips.
- We had to bleed the radiator after the heating was turned off for weeks.
radiator cap
1/ɹˈeɪdiˌeɪtɚ kˈæp/
fixed phrase
pressurized cap on radiator
The cap that closes the radiator.
Examples
- Never open the radiator cap when the engine is hot.
- A faulty radiator cap can cause coolant to boil over.
- He replaced the radiator cap to fix the pressure problem.
radiator grille
1/ɹˈeɪdiˌeɪtɚ ɡɹˈɪl/
fixed phrase
front airflow opening on car
The front cover that lets air reach the radiator.
Examples
- A leaf blocked the airflow behind the radiator grille.
- The new model has a larger radiator grille for better cooling.
- Snow packed into the radiator grille during the storm.
radiator hose
1/ɹˈeɪdiˌeɪtɚ hˈoʊz/
fixed phrase
coolant pipe in a car
A car tube that carries cooling liquid.
Examples
- The radiator hose split and coolant poured onto the road.
- The mechanic replaced a cracked radiator hose.
- Check the radiator hose for bulges before a long trip.
radiator key
1/ɹˈeɪdiˌeɪtɚ kˈi/
fixed phrase
tool for bleeding radiators
A small tool for bleeding a radiator.
Examples
- I keep a radiator key in the kitchen drawer.
- She used a radiator key to bleed the radiator upstairs.
- You can buy a radiator key at most hardware stores.
radiator valve
1/ɹˈeɪdiˌeɪtɚ vˈælv/
fixed phrase
control for radiator flow
A control that makes a radiator hotter or cooler.
Examples
- Turn the radiator valve clockwise to reduce the heat.
- We fitted thermostatic radiator valves in every room.
- The radiator stayed cold because the valve was stuck.