Heater: meaning, definitions and examples

Use when referring to a general device that generates heat and is often portable. Commonly used in everyday situations where you need to warm a single room or small area.

• I turned on the heater because it was too cold in my room
• We bought a small heater for the office

Use when referring to a large heating system used for central heating of a whole building or house. Often found in basements and typically serves multiple rooms through ductwork.

• The furnace broke down, and we need a technician to fix it
• The new furnace is energy-efficient and keeps the entire house warm

Use when referring to a device that transfers heat to a room from hot water or steam. Common in traditional and older heating systems, especially in places with central heating.

• The radiator in the living room isn't getting warm enough
• He put his wet gloves on the radiator to dry them

Use when referring to an appliance mainly used for cooking but can also refer to a wood-burning or pellet stove used to heat a room. Typically found in kitchens for the purpose of preparing food.

• She cooked dinner on the stove
• During the winter, they use a wood-burning stove to heat the cabin

Used for devices that generate heat to warm up a room or a specific area.

• 'Can you turn on the heater? It's really cold in here
• ' 'The space heater keeps my office warm during winter
• '

Refers to a device that heats water to generate steam, usually for central heating systems or industrial processes.

• 'The boiler needs servicing; it’s not heating the water properly
• ' 'In the factory, the boiler is used to produce steam for the machinery
• '

Typically refers to a storage unit for holding water. It doesn't generate heat, but simply stores water for later use.

• 'Make sure the water tank is full before we go camping
• ' 'The water tank on the roof supplies water to the entire building
• '

Commonly used in British English to describe a device that heats water, typically for domestic use. It's particularly common in South Africa and India.

• 'We have a geyser in our bathroom for instant hot water
• ' 'The geyser stopped working, and now we can't take hot showers
• '