refrigerator
UK[rɪˈfrɪdʒəreɪtə(r)]US[rɪˈfrɪdʒəreɪtər]
n
A large piece of electrical kitchen equipment, shaped like a cupboard, used for keeping food and drinks cold so that they stay fresh.
Morpheme Breakdown
re
friger
ator
re
again
friger
to make cold
ator
agent suffix
Etymology
The word "refrigerator" has a transparently logical construction from its Latin components. It originates from the Latin verb refrīgerāre, meaning "to make cold again" or "to cool down", which is formed from the prefix re- (expressing intensive force or repetition) and the root frīgus (cold, frost). The suffix -ātor was added to create an agent noun, refrīgerātor, denoting "that which makes cold". This term entered English in the early 17th century, initially referring to a substance or vessel that cooled things. Its modern meaning, for the domestic cooling appliance, became established in the 19th century, perfectly capturing the machine's function: a device (-ator) that actively makes things cold (friger-) repeatedly or intensively (re-).
Analysis
Structure: re (again) + friger (to make cold) + ator (agent suffix)
re: Latin prefix meaning "again" or "back".
friger: A bound root from the Latin verb frīgerāre, meaning "to make cold" or "to cool", itself from the Latin adjective frīgidus (cold).
ator: A Latin-derived agent noun suffix, indicating a person or thing that performs an action.
Examples
We need to buy a new refrigerator because the old one stopped working.
She opened the refrigerator to get some milk for her coffee.
Leftovers should be stored in the refrigerator within two hours of cooking.