refrigerator

Everyday

A refrigerator is a kitchen machine like a cold cupboard that keeps food and drinks cool so they stay fresh longer. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life it is usually called the fridge. In science, a refrigerator moves heat from inside to outside; it keeps food at about 3–5 °C, which slows down bacteria. In safety, raw meat goes on the bottom shelf, and children should never hide in an old refrigerator. Phrases: put it in the refrigerator, keep refrigerated, refrigerator door.

Examples

• Put the milk back in the refrigerator. tree →
• A refrigerator keeps food cold so it lasts longer. tree →
• The refrigerator is set to 4 °C. tree →
• Keep raw meat on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator. tree →
• «Keep refrigerated» means store it in a fridge. tree →
• The freezer is colder than the refrigerator. tree →
• Never play inside an old refrigerator — you could get trapped. tree →

Note

Countable noun; informal «fridge» (with a d, though «refrigerator» has none). The verb is «refrigerate». A freezer is colder (below 0 °C). A fridge does not make heat disappear; it moves it out — which is why the back is warm.