# dryer

/ˈdɹaɪɝ/ (US) · /dɹˈaɪɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/dryer
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. clothes dryer

noun · CEFR A2

a machine used to dry clothes after they have been washed.

For teachers: a household appliance, typically a tumble dryer, designed to remove moisture from textiles through heat and rotation.

- The towels are still damp, so I will put them in the dryer for ten minutes.
- Modern high-efficiency dryers utilize moisture sensors to automatically terminate the cycle once the laundry has reached the desired level of dryness.

### 2. hair dryer

noun · CEFR B1

a small electrical device that blows hot air to dry your hair.

For teachers: an electromechanical device that blows ambient or hot air over damp hair to accelerate the evaporation of water.

- She used a dryer to style her hair before going to the party.
- The salon invested in professional-grade dryers that operate at lower decibel levels while maintaining high airflow for faster styling.

### 4. drying agent

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical · Formal

a substance or chemical added to things like paint to help them dry faster.

For teachers: a substance, often a chemical catalyst or desiccant, used to promote the removal of water or the hardening of coatings like varnish.

- The artist added a special dryer to the oil paint so it would harden overnight.
- In industrial coating applications, a metallic dryer is often incorporated into the resin to facilitate oxidative crosslinking and reduce curing times.

## Examples

- Put the wet towels in the dryer.
- She loaded the washing machine and started the dryer at the same time.
- The energy-efficient dryer reduced household electricity costs by significantly lowering the temperature required for each cycle.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.