chiller

Everyday

1. A machine or cabinet that keeps food or drink very cold, like a fridge in a shop or kitchen. tree →
2. (informal) A frightening story or film that gives you a shiver: «a spine-chiller». tree →
3. (UK, informal) «A chiller» can also mean a relaxed, calm person or time. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life supermarkets keep milk and meat in chillers. In science and food safety, cold slows the growth of germs. In reading lessons a «chiller» or «spine-chiller» is a scary story. Related: chill, chilly, chilling.

Examples

• The milk is in the chiller at the back of the shop. tree →
• The café has a drinks chiller by the door. tree →
• That ghost story was a real chiller. tree →
• Keep raw meat in the chiller to stop germs growing. tree →
• The film is a spine-chiller, so don't watch it before bed. tree →
• Fish are packed in ice and kept in a chiller. tree →

Note

chill + -er. Countable. A chiller is colder than a room but usually not as cold as a freezer.