radiator

noun

ra·​di·​a·​tor ˈrā-dē-ˌā-tər How to pronounce radiator (audio)
dialectal ˈra-
: one that radiates: such as
a
: any of various devices (such as a series of pipes or tubes) for transferring heat from a fluid within to an area or object outside
b
: a transmitting antenna

Examples of radiator in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
To this day, McCluan can still smell the radiator fluid and diesel fuel that leaked from her car. — Scott Maxwell, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 June 2026 In a traditional satellite model, when the radiator degrades or the memory fails, the satellite becomes space junk. — IEEE Spectrum, 11 June 2026 There was no doorman and no stained glass, and the radiator in the two-bedroom that Goldberg rented for $1,200 was peeling paint. — Jesse Armas, Curbed, 16 June 2026 As a result, removing 10 megawatts of waste heat can require radiator surfaces comparable to the size of two football fields. — Sven Bilén, The Conversation, 16 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for radiator

Word History

First Known Use

1836, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of radiator was in 1836

Rhymes for radiator

See All Rhymes for radiator

Browse Nearby Words

radiative
radiator
radiatory
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Radiator.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/radiator. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

radiator

noun
ra·​di·​a·​tor ˈrād-ē-ˌāt-ər How to pronounce radiator (audio)
: one that radiates
especially : any of various devices (as a set of pipes or tubes) for transferring heat from a fluid within to an area or object outside

More from Merriam-Webster on radiator

Nglish: Translation of radiator for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about radiator

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