microwave
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microwave
A kitchen appliance that quickly heats or cooks food using microwave radiation. It is often called 'Mikro' for short.
Stell die Reste vom Abendessen einfach für zwei Minuten in die Mikrowelle.
Just put the leftovers from dinner in the microwave for two minutes.
The word is made up of 'Mikro-' (Greek for 'small') and 'Welle' (wave). So it literally means 'small wave', which describes how it works technically.
Das Gerät nutzt winzige elektromagnetische Wellen, daher der Name Mikrowelle.
The appliance uses tiny electromagnetic waves, hence the name microwave.
The context tells you whether the kitchen appliance (m01) or the physical wave (m02) is meant. If it's about food, cooking, or the kitchen, the appliance is meant. In scientific or technical texts, the wave is often meant.
Ich wärme mir nur schnell die Suppe in der Mikrowelle auf.
I'm just quickly heating up the soup in the microwave.
In everyday language, the word is often used with certain verbs and prepositions: 'etwas in die Mikrowelle stellen' (to put something in the microwave), 'etwas in der Mikrowelle erhitzen' (to heat something in the microwave), or 'etwas aus der Mikrowelle nehmen' (to take something out of the microwave).
Du kannst das Essen einfach in der Mikrowelle warm machen.
You can simply warm up the food in the microwave.
In spoken language, 'die Mikrowelle' (the microwave) is very often shortened to 'die Mikro'. This short form is very common and understood everywhere.
Hast du das Essen schon in die Mikro gestellt?
Have you already put the food in the microwave?
oven
'Ofen' and 'Mikrowelle' are both kitchen appliances that can heat food. But they work differently and are suitable for different situations. In an 'Ofen', dishes are baked, roasted, or cooked with heat; this often takes longer and makes things like bread or casseroles brown. In a 'Mikrowelle', you usually heat food quickly or cook small portions. Learners may confuse them because both make food warm. For cake, pizza, or roast meat, you are more likely to use the 'Ofen'; for leftovers from the day before, the 'Mikrowelle'.
Nach der Arbeit macht Anna ihre Suppe in der Mikrowelle warm.
After work, Anna heats up her soup in the microwave.
Für die Pizza heizen wir den Ofen auf 220 Grad vor.
For the pizza, we preheat the oven to 220 degrees.