microwave

/ˌmaɪkrəˈweɪv/

/ˈmaɪkrəʊweɪv/

Other forms: microwaves; microwaved; microwaving

A microwave is a small oven that cooks or heats food very quickly. Instead of the electric or gas heat that a regular oven uses, a microwave heats with electromagnetic radiation.

While the heat of a regular oven (or a small toaster oven) surrounds your food and cooks it from the outside, with the heat working its way in, a microwave's radiation cooks most food from the inside out. Its radiation, or waves, penetrate the food and heat up any moisture inside it. These waves are themselves called microwaves because they're short (and micro- means "small"), similar to radio waves.

Definitions of microwave

1. noun

   a kitchen appliance that uses electromagnetic energy to heat and cook food
   synonyms: microwave oven

   type of:

   kitchen appliance

   a home appliance used in preparing food
2. noun

   a short electromagnetic wave (longer than infrared but shorter than radio waves) used for radar, cooking or heating food, and satellite and cellphone communication
   type of:

   electromagnetic radiation, electromagnetic wave, nonparticulate radiation

   radiation consisting of waves of energy associated with electric and magnetic fields resulting from the acceleration of an electric charge
3. verb

   cook or heat in an oven that uses electromagnetic energy
   “You can microwave the leftovers”

   synonyms: micro-cook, nuke, zap

   type of:

   cook

   transform and make suitable for consumption by heating