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microwave

 - 6 dictionary results

mi⋅cro⋅wave

[mahy-kroh-weyv] noun, verb, -waved, -wav⋅ing.
–noun
1. an electromagnetic wave of extremely high frequency, 1 GH3 or more, and having wavelengths of from 1 mm to 30 cm.
2. microwave oven.
–verb (used without object)
3. to use a microwave oven.
–verb (used with object)
4. to cook, defrost, or otherwise prepare in a microwave oven.

Origin:
1930–35; micro- + wave


mi⋅cro⋅wave⋅a⋅ble, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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mi·cro·wave   (mī'krə-wāv', -krō-)   
n.  
  1. An electromagnetic wave with a wavelength between that of infrared and short waves (one millimeter to one meter).

  2. Informal A microwave oven.

tr.v.   mi·cro·waved, mi·cro·wav·ing, mi·cro·waves
To cook or heat (food) in a microwave oven.
mi'cro·wav'a·ble, mi'cro·wave'a·ble adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

microwave 
"type of electromagnetic wave," 1931, coined in Eng. from micro- + wave. First record of microwave oven is from 1965; microwave as short for this is attested from 1974; as a verb, from 1976.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: mi·cro·wave
Pronunciation: -"wAv
Function: noun
often attributive : a comparatively short electromagnetic wave;especially : one between about 1 millimeter and 1 meter in wavelength
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

microwave mi·cro·wave (mī'krə-wāv', -krō-)
n.
A high-frequency electromagnetic wave, one millimeter to one meter in wavelength, intermediate between infrared and shortwave radio wavelengths. v. mi·cro·waved, mi·cro·wav·ing, mi·cro·waves
To cook or heat using microwaves.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Science Dictionary
microwave   (mī'krō-wāv')  Pronunciation Key 
An electromagnetic wave with a frequency in the range of 100 megahertz to 30 gigahertz (lower than infrared but higher than other radio waves). Microwaves are used in radar, radio transmission, cooking, and other applications. Microwaves are generated naturally by many astronomical phenomena and are found in cosmic background radiation. See more at electromagnetic spectrum.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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