compressor

noun com·pres·sor \ kəm-ˈpre-sər \

Updated on: 16 Apr 2018

Definition of compressor

: one that compresses: such as

a : a muscle that compresses a part

b : a machine that compresses gases

See compressor defined for English-language learners

See compressor defined for kids

Recent Examples of compressor from the Web

Moments before the compressor was activated, a person who was inside the tent yelled and screamed and scrambled out.

— jeff mcdonald, sandiegouniontribune.com, "City official who was fired after near-fatal garbage-truck incident back on San Diego payroll," 3 Apr. 2018
An integrated onboard air compressor gives hope that a flat tire or two won’t result in a night under the stars.

— andrew wendler, Car and Driver, "Baja Bop: The Jeep Sandstorm Is a Chopped Wrangler Built for High-Speed Desert Abuse," 20 Mar. 2018
Jason Jarvis, president of Jarvis Airfoil Inc., a Portland manufacturer of fan, compressor and turbine blades and vanes for military and commercial jet engines, compared Trump’s tariffs with pre-Civil War protectionism.

— stephen singer, courant.com, "Connecticut Manufacturers Jeer Trump's Tariffs," 12 Mar. 2018
The compressor trip then resulted in gases from all operating equipment on the facility being directed to a second flare at the plant, Algero said.

— mark schleifstein, NOLA.com, "Dramatic Chalmette Refinery flaring was result of accident, not routine, state says," 12 Mar. 2018
Due to problems with air compressors, the streetcar can't run reliably in the cold.

— sharon coolidge, Cincinnati.com, "5 reasons why the Cincinnati streetcar's numbers are crashing, with no fixes in sight," 5 Mar. 2018
Another wall will be taken down to create a giant room for four compressors and a backup generator that will suck up literal tons of xenon in case of an emergency.

— eric limer, Popular Mechanics, "Construction Begins on Project to Find Dark Matter With 10 Tons of Liquid Xenon a Mile Underground in an Abandoned Gold Mine," 8 Feb. 2018
Each bladder is carefully inflated by air compressor, tied off and secured with a metal clamp and hung to dry for several days before being spray-painted to add glitz and sparkle, something that all Southerners love.

— AL.com, "Mardi Gras tradition: Folly passes by, swinging painted pig and cow bladders," 5 Feb. 2018
And compressor stations have a vital role in making this system function.

— for lg&e and ku, The Courier-Journal, "From underground to warming homes and businesses all around," 23 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'compressor.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of compressor

1839

COMPRESSOR Defined for English Language Learners

compressor

noun

Definition of compressor for English Language Learners

: a machine that compresses air or gas

COMPRESSOR Defined for Kids

compressor

noun com·pres·sor \ kəm-ˈpre-sər \

Definition of compressor for Students

: a machine for reducing the volume of something (as air) by pressure

Medical Dictionary

compressor

noun com·pres·sor \ -ˈpres-ər \

medical Definition of compressor

: one that compresses: as

a : a muscle that compresses a part

b : a machine that compresses gases

Learn More about compressor

See words that rhyme with compressor Spanish Central: Translation of compressor Nglish: Translation of compressor for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about compressor

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compressor

Definition of compressor

Recent Examples of compressor from the Web

First Known Use of compressor

COMPRESSOR Defined for English Language Learners

compressor

Definition of compressor for English Language Learners

COMPRESSOR Defined for Kids

compressor

Definition of compressor for Students

Medical Dictionary

compressor

medical Definition of compressor

Learn More about compressor

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compressor

Definition of compressor

Recent Examples of compressor from the Web

First Known Use of compressor

COMPRESSOR Defined for English Language Learners

compressor

Definition of compressor for English Language Learners

COMPRESSOR Defined for Kids

compressor

Definition of compressor for Students

Medical Dictionary

compressor

medical Definition of compressor

Learn More about compressor

Seen and Heard

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