Akitchen,isaroomorpartofaroom(sometimescalled"kitchenarea"ora"kitchenette")usedforfoodpreparationincludingcooking,andsometimesalsoforeatingandentertainingguests,ifthekitchenislargeenoughanddesignedtobeusedthatway.

　　Amodernkitchenintheaffluentpartsofthewesternworldistypicallyequippedwithastoveandpossiblyamicrowaveoven.Italsohasasinkwithhotandcoldrunningwateravailableforcleaningfood,forprovidingwatertocookwith,aswellasforwashingdishes,althoughsomemodernkitchenshaveadishwasher.Oneormoreunitsinwhichtostorefood,andtostoreutensils,potsanddishes,arealsousuallypresentinornearakitchen,eitherintheformofanadjacentpantryroom,ormorecommonlyaskitchencabinetsandarefrigeratorwhichoftenhasafreezercompartmenttoo.

　　Althoughthemainfunctionofakitchenissupposedtobecookingorpreparingfood,thekitchencanbethecenterofotheractivitiesaswell,especiallywithinhomes,dependingonthesize,furnishings,andequipment.If,assometimeshappens,thehomedoesnothavealaundryroom,butinsteadhasawashingmachineandpossiblyadryerinaclosetinthekitchen,thenwashinganddryinglaundrymayalsobedoneinthesameroom.Thekitchenmayalsobetheplacewherethefamilyeats,provideditislargeenoughandhasatableandchairs.Sometimes,thekitchenisthemostcomfortingroominahouse,wherefamilyandvisitorstendtocongregate.Inthisrespectalargemodernkitchenisstillthepsychological"hearth"ofthehome.