Household Appliance Vocabulary

These are appliances we use every day in our house. Each word includes a definition and example sentence:

• broiler - device for broiling meat

  That steak was done to perfection. Where did you get that boiler? It's fantastic.

• can opener - a device to open cans by cutting around the edges of the rim.

  Don't open that by hand. Use the can opener!

• compactor - device for pressing together; crusher

  You'd be surprised at how much garbage the compactor can put into one bag!

• defroster - mechanism that defrosts

  The freezer has a built in automatic defroster so ice doesn't collect.

• dicer - a machine that slices food thinly

  You can make a beautiful salad in under two minutes with this fantastic dicer!

• dishwasher - device that washes dishes

  I don't know what I'd do without my dishwasher. I can't imagine having to wash all those dishes by hand!

• dryer - device or appliance for removing moisture, as by hot air

  Honey, where's the dryer? I've just taken a shower and I need to dry my hair.

• eggbeater - rotating kitchen device for mixing egg yolk

  Could you pass me the eggbeater so I can fluff these egg whites for the lemon pie.

• fan - device for creating a current of air or a breeze

  I really don't like using the air-conditioning. I much prefer this fan to keep things cool.

• freezer - one that freezes, as a thermally insulated cabinet

  He goes shopping and buys enough food to put into his freezer for a month.

• furnace - structure or apparatus for generating heat

  Could you check if the furnace is working? It seems so cold in here.

• humidifier - apparatus for increasing the humidity in a room

  It's a good idea to put a humidifier in the room for young babies when they have a cold.

• icebox - insulated chest or box in which ice is put to cool

  We have an icebox out in the backyard where we keep the beer. Feel free to help yourself!

• iron - instrument used for taking the wrinkles out of a piece of clothing through heat

  The production of modern materials such as permanent press has almost made the iron a thing of the past.

• juicer - appliance for extracting juice from fruits

  We use a juicer to make all of our juices in-house. It's really healthy.

• oven - chamber or enclosed compartment usually used to cook in, as in a stove

  I like cooking potatoes in the oven instead of frying them.

• percolator - type of coffeepot in which boiling water is forced through a filter

  Can you plug in the percolator and make us a cup of coffee?

• refrigerator - appliance for maintaining foods at a low temperature, or producing ice

  We keep the bread in the refrigerator.

• rotisserie - cooking device equipped with a rotating spit

  In the summer, we like to use the outdoor rotisserie to cook delicious chicken.

• shaver - one that shaves; a device used in shaving

  I prefer using a shaver instead of a razor.

• stove - device used to provide heat (either electric or gas) to cook food

  I really don't know how to cook. About the only thing I can do is boil an egg on the stove.

• toaster - device used to toast bread, esp. by exposure to heat

  Could you pop this bread into the toaster?

• vacuum cleaner - appliance using suction to clean surfaces

  I used the vacuum cleaner to clean all the rugs - they really needed it.

Now that you have studied these words, continue to the pronunciation and quiz page. On this page you will find a list of the vocabulary studied and a sound file (using RealPlayer) with the correct pronunciation of the words. Below this you will find a quiz using these words, use each word in the list once to complete the quiz.

Pronunciation and Quiz for Household Appliances Vocabulary

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