Microwave

Part of speech: noun, verb

Pronunciation: /ˈmaɪkɹəˌweɪv/

Definitions

1. A device that cooks or heats food using electromagnetic waves is known for its speed
2. It refers to a specific range of electromagnetic waves used in various technologies
3. The term can also describe a cooking method that rapidly warms food using these waves

Etymology: The name combines two parts, "micro-" and "wave." "Micro-" comes from the Greek "mikros," meaning "small," and entered English as a prefix used to form scientific and technical terms. "Wave" is an older English word for a moving swell or undulation, which in this case refers to electromagnetic waves. The compound describes a device using very short radio waves, which are much smaller than the broadcast waves used for radio and television. The surprise is that the name describes the wavelength, not the size of the appliance. The waves inside a microwave oven are short enough to make water molecules in food vibrate rapidly, which generates heat from within the food. The compound was formed in English from these ordinary parts, so it is a plain descriptive coinage rather than a classical word passed down from antiquity.

Synonyms: micro-oven