broiler

IPA/ˈbrɔɪlə(r)/
KK[brˈɔɪlɚ]IPA/ˈbrɔɪlər/

broiler — noun

  • broilersingular
  • broilersplural

1. a chicken that is still young and sold to be cooked whole, especially by roastin

1.nounB2
Definition

a chicken that is still young and sold to be cooked whole, especially by roasting or grilling

Example

Valentina rubbed herbs on the broiler before sliding it into the oven.

prepare a broiler for roasting

Broilers from this farm are small enough for a home oven.

broiler sized for roasting whole

Common collocations
  • buy a broiler
  • whole broiler
  • season the broiler
  • broiler chicken
Synonyms
  • young chicken

    broader everyday phrase that explains the age but not the market label

  • roasting chicken

    store label for a chicken meant for oven cooking, though it may be larger than a broiler

Grammar Patterns

buy a broiler

season the broiler

a broiler cooks quickly

Usage Note

In this sense, broiler is mainly a North American food term for a young chicken raised for meat. Distinguish from sense 2, which names the high-heat part of an oven.

Common Mistakes

We bought a broiler to collect eggs.
We bought a hen to collect eggs.
a broiler is raised for meat, not mainly for laying eggs.

2. the very hot top part inside an oven that cooks food placed right under it

2.nounB2
Definition

the very hot top part inside an oven that cooks food placed right under it

Example

Christopher moved the toast closer to the broiler to brown the cheese.

move food under the broiler

Grease from the fish began to smoke under the broiler.

cook food under the broiler

Common collocations
  • under the broiler
  • turn on the broiler
  • broiler setting
  • broiler tray
Synonyms
  • grill

    in British English, this often names the same oven function or heating area

  • top element

    technical kitchen term for the upper heating part inside an oven

Grammar Patterns

cook food under the broiler

turn on the broiler

the broiler stops working

Usage Note

In North American English, broiler often means the oven's strong top heat or the part that produces it. In British English, grill is often used for this function instead.

Common Mistakes

Put the cake in the broiler for thirty minutes.
Put the cake in the oven for thirty minutes.
the broiler is the top high-heat part, not the whole oven.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Broiler is more specific than chicken. Chicken can mean the animal, the meat, or almost any bird sold for food. A broiler is a young chicken raised to be cooked, often while it is still small and tender. Hen usually means an adult female chicken, especially one kept for eggs, so it does not suggest the same kind of meat. Roaster is another market label, but it often refers to a larger bird that suits slower oven cooking. In everyday talk, many people still say chicken, but recipes, menus, and meat labels may choose broiler when size, age, and cooking use matter.

broiler ↗chicken ↗hen ↗roaster ↗

Etymology

English

Broiler was built in English from the verb broil and the ending -er. It first named something used for broiling, and later also a young chicken sold for that style of cooking.

First known use

14th century

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1