freezer

Everyday

1. A freezer is a very cold cupboard or box that freezes food to keep it fresh for a long time. tree →
2. A freezer can be part of a fridge (the top or bottom part) or a separate machine. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life and science, a freezer keeps food at about −18 °C (0 °F), well below the freezing point of water (0 °C, 32 °F), so ice lollies, ice cubes and frozen peas stay frozen. In safety lessons, children never play or hide inside a chest freezer or old fridge, because the door can shut and trap them. Frozen meat should thaw in the fridge. Phrases: in the freezer, chest freezer, freezer bag, fridge-freezer.

Examples

• Put the ice cream back in the freezer. tree →
• We keep frozen peas in the freezer. tree →
• Fill the tray with water and put it in the freezer to make ice. tree →
• Never climb into a freezer; the door can lock. tree →
• The freezer is colder than the fridge. tree →
• Mum took the chicken out of the freezer to defrost. tree →
• Don't touch frosty metal in the freezer with wet fingers. tree →
• The freezer is full of ice lollies. tree →

Note

Countable: a freezer, freezers. Fridge = cold (keeps food a few days); freezer = colder (freezes food for months). Spelled with -zer. Water in the freezer expands as it turns to ice, which is why bottles can crack.