cryogenic
/ˌkraɪ.əʊˈdʒen.ɪk/ IELTSAcademic
adjective
Cryogenic means relating to very low temperatures, especially temperatures used to freeze or store materials. It is often used in science, medicine, and industry.
- They used cryogenic storage for the samples.
- Cryogenic temperatures can damage skin quickly.
- The lab needs cryogenic equipment.
Adinary Nuance
Cryogenic is more technical than cold or freezing. Use it when you mean extremely low temperatures in science, medicine, or engineering. For everyday speech, people usually say cold, icy, or frozen instead. It often sounds formal and specialized.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- siêu lạnh
- Spanish
- criogénico
- Chinese
- 低温的
- Japanese
- 極低温の
- Korean
- 극저온의
Etymology
Cryogenic comes from Greek krys meaning “cold” and -genic meaning “producing” or “forming.” It entered English in the early 20th century with scientific use.
Common phrases
cryogenic storagecryogenic temperaturescryogenic equipmentcryogenic freezing
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is cryogenic a common everyday word?
- No, it is mainly used in science, medicine, and engineering.
- What is the difference between cryogenic and freezing?
- Freezing is everyday language. Cryogenic is more technical and means extremely cold.
- Can I use cryogenic in business writing?
- Yes, if you are writing about technology, labs, or industrial processes.
- Does cryogenic always mean liquid nitrogen?
- No. It can refer to very low temperatures in general, not only liquid nitrogen.