convection

/kənˈvɛkʃən/

noun

  1. The transfer of heat through a liquid or gas caused by the movement of the warmer, lighter parts rising and the cooler, denser parts sinking.

    B2

    uncountabletechnical

    • "Convection is the main way heat moves through the air in a room."B1
    • "Heat moves through boiling water by convection."B2
    • "Convection currents in the Earth's mantle are thought to drive the movement of tectonic plates."C1

  2. A method of cooking or heating in which a fan circulates hot air, so that food cooks more quickly and evenly.

    B2

    uncountable; often used before another noun, as in 'convection oven'

    • "I bought a convection oven so my cookies would bake evenly."

  3. The vertical movement of air or other fluid, often causing clouds and weather changes.

    C1

    uncountabletechnical

    • "Strong convection in the atmosphere can lead to thunderstorms."C1

Common mistakes

  • convection is the transfer of heat through direct contact→convection is the transfer of heat through the movement of a fluid

    Learners often confuse convection with conduction. Conduction is heat transfer by direct contact, while convection involves the movement of liquids or gases.

  • convection current→convection currents

    Usually used in the plural when describing the circulating flow of a fluid, as in 'convection currents in the mantle'.

Collocations

convection currentconvection ovennatural convectionforced convectionconvection cellmantle convection

Word family

convectconvectiveconvectionalconvectorconvectively