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electric heater

electric heater

1 2.1
A machine that uses electricity to make a room or small space warm
  • noun
  • /ɪˈlɛktrɪk ˈhiːtər/
translation icon : calefactor eléctrico
  • The room was small but had its own electric heater to keep it warm during the winter.
  • turn on the electric heater
  • small electric heater
  • use electric heaters

You would turn on your light and Dang it, I knew I shouldn't have used an electric heater.

Examples

  • Tall electric heaters stand in two corners of the room.

    Academic text (1992)
  • In the winter, a wheezy electric heater, glowing like a rising sun, and several layers of blankets kept us warm.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • If you love green energy and green living, consider using electric heaters less during the winter months.

    Blog text (11)
  • The family uses only an electric heater.

    Blog text (21)
  • The benefits included energy cost savings of $43 per year for homes with electric heaters.

    Academic text (1992)
  • In front of his chair, a small electric heater is buzzing away.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • Don't use electric heaters unless you have to during the winter months.

    Blog text (6)
  • Perhaps it was filthy down there, dusty, dark, but there were always a few electric heaters turned on.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • It is equipped with sleeping bags, food, water, a radio, and an electric heater.

    Academic text (2001)
  • After clearing a space around the electric heater, Adina brought over cushions and they sat around the heater, watching the gray winter day fade into night.

    Fiction book (1990)

Synonyms

heater
vselectric heater
93 1.0

A machine that makes a room or water warm

focuses on electrical power as the heat source rather than any power type
warmer
vselectric heater
19 3.2

A machine that heats and keeps water, food, or a room hot

is focused on electric power for heating small spaces rather than water heating
space heater
vselectric heater
  • US
11 3.1

A small heater that you can move to warm one room

is specifically about using electrical power to produce heat for small spaces
electric fire
vselectric heater
  • UK
3.1

A small heater that plugs into the wall and looks like a fireplace

is an appliance powered by electricity to warm a room without decorative imitation
warmaker
vselectric heater
8.0

A device that makes a room warm by producing heat

is narrower, using electricity specifically and often for smaller spaces

How Hot

space heater
  • US
11 3.1
electric heater
1 2.1

Surface Forms

Morphology

electric + heater

The meaning 'a device that uses electricity to produce heat' is transparently composed from 'electric' (relating to electrical power) + 'heater' (an appliance producing heat). This noun-noun compounding follows a common, cross-linguistic pattern and would be immediately understandable to a B1 learner who knows both constituent words.

Etymology

Electric heater is a clear, literal name: electric means using electricity and heater means something that makes heat, so you can picture a device that warms a room. That's why the term means 'a device that uses electricity to produce heat'.