hotplate: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral to formal (technical in lab context).
Quick answer
What does “hotplate” mean?
A portable electric or gas appliance with a flat heated surface, used for cooking or keeping food warm.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A portable electric or gas appliance with a flat heated surface, used for cooking or keeping food warm.
Any flat, heated surface in a laboratory or industrial setting used for heating substances; also refers to a heated section on some stovetops.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is standard in both varieties, but the standalone appliance might be more commonly called a 'single burner' or 'portable burner' in US casual speech. 'Hotplate' is the unambiguous technical term for the lab equipment in both.
Connotations
In BE, it more readily conjures the image of a portable cooking appliance (e.g., for a student flat). In AE, the lab equipment connotation might be equally strong.
Frequency
Slightly higher relative frequency in BE for the domestic appliance context.
Grammar
How to Use “hotplate” in a Sentence
[VERB] + hotplate: use/plug in/switch on/heat on a hotplate[ADJECTIVE] + hotplate: electric/portable/laboratory hotplate[PREP] + hotplate: on/over a hotplateVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hotplate” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- We'll hotplate the peas to keep them warm for late arrivals.
- The caterers were hotplating the canapés in the hall.
American English
- They decided to hotplate the stew for the potluck.
- The servers hotplated the appetizers in the kitchen.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Possibly in retail for appliances or in catering supply.
Academic
Common in laboratory manuals and chemistry contexts.
Everyday
Common when discussing small kitchen appliances, student accommodation, or temporary cooking solutions.
Technical
Standard term for a controlled, flat-surface heater in laboratories and some industrial processes.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hotplate”
- Spelling as two words: 'hot plate' (acceptable but less common as a compound).
- Confusing it with a 'griddle' (which is a flat cooking surface but often implied to be for specific foods).
- Using it to refer to the entire kitchen stove.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. An induction hob uses electromagnetic induction to heat the cookware directly and is a type of technology. A hotplate is a general term for a flat heating surface, which can use electric coil, gas, halogen, or induction technology. A single induction burner could be called an induction hotplate.
Yes, a single or double hotplate can serve as a primary cooking appliance in small spaces like studio flats, caravans, or dormitories, though it may be limiting for complex meals.
A hotplate is a source of heat. A griddle is a flat cooking surface (often a plate of metal) that is placed *on* a heat source like a hotplate or burner. Some appliances combine them into a 'griddle hotplate'.
It is neutral and standard. It is perfectly acceptable in technical writing (e.g., lab reports) for the equipment, and in everyday speech for the appliance. It is not slang.
A portable electric or gas appliance with a flat heated surface, used for cooking or keeping food warm.
Hotplate: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhɒt.pleɪt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhɑːt.pleɪt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms specifically with 'hotplate']”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a HOT PLATE you put food on. It's literally a plate that gets hot.
Conceptual Metaphor
A PORTABLE FIRE (source of controllable heat).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'hotplate' LEAST likely to be used?