noun
icebox
UH-ihs-boks
Icebox (noun) means an old-fashioned insulated box or cabinet that used blocks of ice to keep food cool, before electric refrigerators were common. Example: “Grandma still calls the fridge an icebox out of habit.”
noun
1
An old-fashioned insulated box or cabinet that used blocks of ice to keep food cool, before electric refrigerators were common.
"Grandma still calls the fridge an icebox out of habit."
2
(informal) A refrigerator.
"Grab a soda from the icebox while you're up."
How to use icebox
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn old term for a fridge, from the days when ice blocks (not electricity) kept food cold.
When to use it
Mostly used informally or by older speakers in American English; younger speakers just say "fridge."
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Word forms
- Plural
- iceboxes
Fill the gap
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Grandma still calls the fridge an _____ out of habit.
Etymology
From ice + box — literally a box that held ice.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for icebox
See all rhymes for icebox →Frequently asked questions
What does “icebox” mean?
The word “icebox” means an old-fashioned insulated box or cabinet that used blocks of ice to keep food cool, before electric refrigerators were common. In plain terms, an old term for a fridge, from the days when ice blocks (not electricity) kept food cold.
How do you pronounce “icebox”?
“Icebox” is pronounced UH-ihs-boks (/ˈʌɪsbɒks/ in IPA).
How do you use “icebox” in a sentence?
Here is “icebox” used in a sentence: “Grandma still calls the fridge an icebox out of habit.”
What is another word for “icebox”?
Words with a similar meaning to “icebox” include cool box, cooler, coolbox, chilly bin and esky.
What part of speech is “icebox”?
“Icebox” is a noun.
How many meanings does “icebox” have?
“Icebox” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an old-fashioned insulated box or cabinet that used blocks of ice to keep food cool, before electric refrigerators were common.
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