microwave

UK: /ˈmaɪkrəʊweɪv/ US: /ˈmaɪkroʊˌweɪv/ ,(mī′krō wāv′)

Inflections of 'microwave' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

microwaves

v 3rd person singular

microwaving

v pres p

microwaved

v past

microwaved

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

mi•cro•wave /ˈmaɪkroʊˌweɪv/   n., v., -waved, -wav•ing. 
n. [countable]

1. Physics an electromagnetic wave of extremely high frequency.
2. Food a microwave oven:
   Put it in the microwave and defrost it.

v. [~ + object]

3. Food to cook or heat in a microwave oven:
   He microwaved dinner because he was in a hurry.

mi•cro•wav•a•ble, adj. 

: a microwavable plastic tray.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

mi•cro•wave  (mī′krō wāv′), n., v., -waved, -wav•ing. 
n. 

1. Physics an electromagnetic wave of extremely high frequency, 1 GH₃ or more, and having wavelengths of from 1 mm to 30 cm.
2. Food See microwave oven. 

v.i. 

3. Food to use a microwave oven.

v.t. 

4. Food to cook, defrost, or otherwise prepare in a microwave oven.

• micro- + wave 1930–35

mi′cro•wave′a•ble, adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

microwave / ˈmaɪkrəʊˌweɪv/ noun

1. electromagnetic radiation in the wavelength range 0.3 to 0.001 metres: used in radar, cooking, etc
2. (as modifier): microwave generator
3. short for microwave oven

verb (transitive)

1. to cook (food) in a microwave oven