Microwaves

[mahy-kroh-weyv] /ˈmaɪ kroʊˌweɪv/

noun
1.
an of extremely high frequency, 1 GH 3 or more, and having wavelengths of from 1 mm to 30 cm.
2.
.
verb (used without object), microwaved, microwaving.
3.
to use a .
verb (used with object), microwaved, microwaving.
4.
to cook, defrost, or otherwise prepare in a .
/ˈmaɪkrəʊˌweɪv/
noun
1.

2.
short for microwave oven
verb (transitive)
3.
to cook in a microwave oven
n.

type of electromagnetic wave, 1931, coined in English from micro- + wave (n.). First record of microwave oven is from 1961; microwave as short for this is attested from 1974; as a verb, from 1976.

microwave mi·cro·wave (mī’krə-wāv’, -krō-)
n.
A high-frequency electromagnetic wave, one millimeter to one meter in wavelength, intermediate between infrared and shortwave radio wavelengths. v. mi·cro·waved, mi·cro·wav·ing, mi·cro·waves
To cook or heat using microwaves.
microwave
(mī’krō-wāv’)
An electromagnetic wave with a frequency in the range of 100 megahertz to 30 gigahertz (lower than infrared but higher than other radio waves). Microwaves are used in radar, radio transmission, cooking, and other applications. Microwaves are generated naturally by many astronomical phenomena and are found in cosmic background radiation. See more at electromagnetic spectrum.

Electromagnetic waves with a wavelength on the order of a few inches. Microwaves are longer than infrared radiation and shorter than radio waves. Microwaves are used extensively for communication, both in satellite television and for the transmission of long-distance telephone signals. In a microwave oven, food is cooked by the heat generated when the water in the food absorbs microwaves.