microboreadj.n.
/ˈmʌɪkrə(ʊ)bɔː/, U.S. /ˈmaɪkroʊˌbɔr/, /ˈmaɪkrəˌbɔr/ A. adj. (attributive).
Of a pipe: having a very narrow bore. Of equipment, esp. a central heating system: incorporating such pipes.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > heating or making hot > [adjective] > heated or warmed > heated in specific manner (of building or room) > specific system of central heating
one-pipe1888
two-pipe1897
microbore1967
minibore1968
1967 Science 10 Mar. 1164/1 (advt.) Ultra-micro ‘pipettes’ are flame drawn from G-E quartz micro-bore tubing.
1969 Domest. Heating Summer 12/1 An important item in any microbore installation is, of course, the microbore tube itself.
1976 Scotsman 25 Nov. 22/1 (advt.) Detached stone-built family house to let... Micro-bore central heating, etc.
1986 Home Finder Nov. 16/2 A pumped microbore circuit serves high output Thermalrad radiators in all rooms.
B. n.
Central heating equipment which incorporates microbore piping.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > heating or making hot > [noun] > heating of building > specific system of
radiant heating1825
central heating1871
baseboard heating1908
pressure jet1910
space heating1930
ondol1935
gas firing1961
storage heating1961
microbore1968
1968 Domest. Heating News Apr. 22/1 Considerable publicity has already been accorded minibore systems—or microbore, as some sections of the heating trade prefer to call it.
1970 Heating & Ventilating Engineer Nov. 227 Microbore has shown itself less prone to air locks than the conventional ring system.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2001; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.n.1967