refrigerate

verb

re·​frig·​er·​ate ri-ˈfri-jə-ˌrāt 

refrigerated; refrigerating

transitive verb

: to make or keep cold or cool

specifically : to freeze or chill for preservation

foods that should be refrigerated

refrigeration

ri-ˌfri-jə-ˈrā-shən 

noun

Synonyms

• chill
• cool

Examples of refrigerate in a Sentence

Refrigerate the mixture for an hour before serving.

refrigerate the cake after you frost it so that the frosting doesn't melt

Recent Examples on the Web

Low-acidity foods that are often refrigerated for a long time, like melons, have been associated with listeria outbreaks in the past, as have foods that grow in humid conditions, like alfalfa sprouts. —Mustafa Fattah, NBC News, 17 Oct. 2024

Those stories are so powerful that Americans refrigerate all kinds of milk-adjacent products unnecessarily. —Ellen Cushing, The Atlantic, 11 Oct. 2024

Red wines can be left out at room temperature for a day or two, but beyond that, they should be refrigerated. —Emily Price, Forbes, 7 Oct. 2024

And, if refrigerated after opening, the oil will last four months.12 Other Uses for Grapeseed Oil Beyond its culinary uses, grapeseed oil is being researched for its potential in skincare products to improve skin appearance. —Laura Schober, Health, 30 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin refrigeratus, past participle of refrigerare, from re- + frigerare to cool, from frigor-, frigus cold — more at frigid

First Known Use

1534, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

refrigerate

verb

re·​frig·​er·​ate ri-ˈfrij-ə-ˌrāt 

refrigerated; refrigerating

: to make or keep cold or cool

especially : to freeze or chill food to preserve it

refrigeration

-ˌfrij-ə-ˈrā-shən 

noun