1. 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
   "Microwave technology has revolutionized communication systems"
    
2. 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
   "She quickly reheated her leftovers in the microwave oven";
   - microwave oven

1. Cook or heat in a microwave oven
   "You can microwave the leftovers";
   - micro-cook [N. Amer, informal], zap [informal], nuke [informal]

Derived forms: microwaves, microwaving, microwaved

Type of: cook, electromagnetic radiation, electromagnetic wave, kitchen appliance, nonparticulate radiation

Part of: electromagnetic spectrum

Encyclopedia: Microwave