noun · verb · 7 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
mī'krə-wāv"
/ˈmaɪkɹəˌweɪv/
Received-Pronunciation:mī'krō-wāv"
Received-Pronunciation:/ˈmaɪkɹəʊˌweɪv/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
General-American:/ˈmaɪkɹoʊˌweɪv/
CMU ARPABET:M AY1 K R AH0 W EY2 V
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
An electromagnetic wave with wavelength between that of infrared light and radio waves.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
Many radar systems use a combination of radio waves and microwaves.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: SHF
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: radio wave, wave
2
noun
Meaning 2
Ellipsis of microwave oven.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis
Examples
Just put it in the microwave for 30 seconds and it's ready to eat.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
verb
Meaning 3
To cook (something) in a microwave oven.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: nuke, microcook, zap
Antonyms: none provided
4
verb
Meaning 4
To provide minimal preparation for implementation, deeming full or extensive preparation as unnecessary.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: slang, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
kitchen appliance that cooks food by passing an electromagnetic wave through it; heat results from the absorption of energy by the water molecules in the food
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: microwave oven
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: kitchen appliance
6
noun
Meaning 6
a short electromagnetic wave (longer than infrared but shorter than radio waves); used for radar and microwave ovens and for transmitting telephone, facsimile, video and data
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.