thermostat

1 of 2

noun

ther·​mo·​stat ˈthər-mə-ˌstat 

: an automatic device for regulating temperature (as by controlling the supply of gas or electricity to a heating apparatus)

also : a similar device for actuating fire alarms or for controlling automatic sprinklers

thermostatic

ˌthər-mə-ˈsta-tik 

adjective

thermostatically

ˌthər-mə-ˈsta-ti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

thermostat

2 of 2

verb

thermostated ˈthər-mə-ˌsta-təd  also thermostatted; thermostating also thermostatting

transitive verb

: to provide with or control the temperature of by a thermostat

Examples of thermostat in a Sentence

Noun

I set the thermostat to 68 degrees.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Some of the smart home features include thermostat control in different rooms and remote control access to the garage, which can hold up to six cars. —Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2024

And with the proliferation of smart thermostats and heat pumps, utilities can even remotely tweak the temperature in a home—with the permission of the homeowner, of course. —Matt Simon, WIRED, 23 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

thermo- + -stat

First Known Use

Noun

1831, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1924, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

thermostat

noun

ther·​mo·​stat

ˈthər-mə-ˌstat

: a device that automatically controls temperature

thermostatic

ˌthər-mə-ˈstat-ik

adjective

thermostatically

-i-k(ə-)lē

adverb

Medical Definition

thermostat

1 of 2 noun

ther·​mo·​stat ˈthər-mə-ˌstat 

1

: an automatic device for regulating temperature (as by controlling the supply of gas or electricity to a heating apparatus)

2

: a piece of apparatus (as a constant-temperature chamber) regulated by a thermostat

thermostatic

ˌthər-mə-ˈstat-ik 

adjective

thermostatically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

thermostat

2 of 2 transitive verb

thermostated -ˌstat-əd  or thermostatted; thermostating or thermostatting

: to provide with or control the temperature of by a thermostat

a thermostated centrifuge