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Glite Dictionary
pilot burner

pilot burner

6.1
A small gas flame that stays lit to light a larger flame when needed
  • noun
  • /ˈpaɪlət ˈbɜrnər/
  • Specialized
translation icon : quemador piloto
  • Technicians checked the old stove's pilot burner for blockages during maintenance.

Examples

  • The pilot burner must always be lit for the main oven to function properly.

  • The pilot burner ignites the main flame when the gas is turned on.

  • If the pilot burner goes out, you should follow safety procedures before relighting it.

  • I checked the pilot burner before starting the heater.

  • The technician replaced the faulty pilot burner to ensure the furnace ignites properly.

  • Before starting the barbecue, make sure the pilot burner is functioning to light the main burners.

  • The pilot burner keeps a steady flame, making it easier to cook meals on the gas stove.

Synonyms

pilot
vspilot burner
  • Specialized
39 8.0

A small flame that lights a larger gas burner

focuses on providing a continuous flame to light larger burners
pilot light
vspilot burner
  • Specialized
4 3.8

A small gas flame that stays lit to light a larger burner

is the same idea described as an auxiliary source providing continuous ignition

How Hot

stove
  • US
110 1.0
hotplate
2 3.2
pilot burner
  • Specialized
6.1

Surface Forms

pilot burner singular
pilot burners plural

Morphology

pilot + burner

The meaning is directly compositional: 'pilot' (a small continuous flame used to ignite) combined with 'burner' (a device that combusts fuel) yields an auxiliary small burner used to light the main flame. This follows standard noun+noun compounding and mirrors common cross-linguistic patterns (e.g., 'pilot light'), so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Pilot burner is named after the small, steady flame that acts like a pilot or guide for the larger burner. The little flame stays lit so it can 'light' the main flame when needed, so the name means a small burner that keeps a constant flame to start the big one.