refrigerate

[/rɪˈfrɪdʒəreɪt/]
verb
refrigerar
1. to preserve food or other perishable items by keeping them at a low temperature in a refrigerator
You should refrigerate the leftovers immediately after dinner.
Você deve refrigerar as sobras imediatamente após o jantar.
2. to make something cold or cooler, especially for preservation purposes
The medicine needs to be refrigerated to maintain its effectiveness.
O medicamento precisa ser refrigerado para manter sua eficácia.
3. to cool something down to a chilled temperature
Refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes before baking.
Refrigere a massa por 30 minutos antes de assar.
In Brazil, food safety and proper food storage are increasingly emphasized in urban areas. The verb 'refrigerar' is standard in cooking instructions and medical contexts. Colloquially, Brazilians often use 'geladeira' (refrigerator) more frequently than the verb form in casual speech, saying 'coloca na geladeira' (put it in the fridge) rather than 'refrigera'.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
chillcoolfreezepreserve
Antonyms / Antônimos
heatwarmthaw

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
refrigerar
most common and standard usage throughout Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
refrigerar
standard usage, sometimes colloquially shortened to 'frigo'
São Paulo
refrigerar
standard formal usage in business and everyday contexts
Portugal
arrefecer or refrigerar
both terms used; 'arrefecer' is more common in European Portuguese

Related Words

refrigeratorrefrigerationcoldperishablepreservation

Related Idioms & Phrases

keep it cool
refrigerate at all times
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