noun
boiler
A device that heats water or produces steam.
The building's boiler heats water for radiators on every floor.
Etymology
Latin bullire expressed bubbling or boiling. With the device-naming ending -er, boiler identifies equipment that heats water, often far enough for the water to become steam.
More examples
- The engineer checks the steam boiler.
- Two large boilers supply the factory.
- The old boiler was replaced during the renovation.
Forms
boiler · boilers
Similar words
- furnace
- Usually heats air rather than circulating hot water or steam.
- water heater
- May supply domestic hot water without serving a heating system.