refrigerator
gb/ɹɪfɹˈɪd͡ʒɚˌeɪtɚ/ us/ɹɪfɹˈɪd͡ʒɚˌeɪtɚ/
A2
English
~ 9300
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
household appliance for keeping food cold
A big electric box in the kitchen that keeps food and drinks cold.
Usage pattern:
[someone] puts [something] in the refrigerator
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *on the refrigerator* when they mean that food is being kept inside it; use *in the refrigerator* for food and drinks. Many learners also only know *fridge* and are unsure if *refrigerator* is different; in most everyday situations they mean the same thing, but *refrigerator* is more formal or written.
Synonyms
fridge (More informal and more common in everyday speech; same basic meaning.)
|
cooler (Usually a portable container with ice, not an electric kitchen appliance.)
Antonyms
oven (An appliance that heats food, the opposite of keeping it cold.)
Collocations
put in the refrigerator
|keep in the refrigerator
|store in the refrigerator
|take from the refrigerator
|open the refrigerator
|clean the refrigerator
Themes
daily life
|home
|food
|technology
|food_drink
|daily_life
|housing
Examples
- Please put the leftovers in the refrigerator before you go to bed.
- Our refrigerator stopped working, and all the food went bad.
- There is a grocery list on the refrigerator door.
- The new apartment comes with a large stainless steel refrigerator.
- She opened the refrigerator to see what she could make for dinner.
Learner examples
- The milk is in the refrigerator.
- I open the refrigerator and take an apple.
- We have a small refrigerator in our kitchen.
- Please close the refrigerator door.
- They keep vegetables in the bottom of the refrigerator.
Grammar
Dictionary form
refrigerator
IPA
GB/ɹɪfɹˈɪd͡ʒɚˌeɪtɚ/
US/ɹɪfɹˈɪd͡ʒɚˌeɪtɚ/
Syllables & stress
re - fri - ger - at - or (5 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (fri)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: refrigerator
- Plural: refrigerators
Word family
Forms
refrigerators
noun
Core family
refrigerate
verb
refrigeration
noun
Related words
fridge
noun A1
Advanced or less common
refrigerant
noun
Expressions
keep in the refrigerator
1/kˈip ˈɪn ðə ɹɪfɹˈɪd͡ʒɚˌeɪtɚ/
fixed phrase
store food or drink in a refrigerator
To leave food or drink in a refrigerator so it stays cold over time.
Examples
- You should keep this medicine in the refrigerator after opening it.
- The label says to keep the juice in the refrigerator and drink it within three days.
put in the refrigerator
1/pˈʊt ˈɪn ðə ɹɪfɹˈɪd͡ʒɚˌeɪtɚ/
fixed phrase
place food or drink in a refrigerator
To move food or drink into a refrigerator so it stays cold and fresh.
Examples
- After dinner, she put the remaining soup in the refrigerator.
- You should put the cake in the refrigerator so the cream does not melt.
refrigerator magnet
1/ɹɪfɹˈɪd͡ʒɚˌeɪtɚ mˈæɡnɪt/
fixed phrase
small magnet used on a refrigerator door
A small magnet that you put on a refrigerator door to hold notes or photos, or just to decorate.
Examples
- Their refrigerator is covered with colorful refrigerator magnets from different countries.
- She used a refrigerator magnet to hold the shopping list on the door.
take out of the refrigerator
1/tˈeɪk ˈaʊt əv ðə ɹɪfɹˈɪd͡ʒɚˌeɪtɚ/
fixed phrase
remove food or drink from a refrigerator
To remove food or drink from a refrigerator.
Examples
- Please take the butter out of the refrigerator ten minutes before we eat.
- She took the chicken out of the refrigerator to cook dinner.