compressed air

American  

noun

1. air compressed, especially by mechanical means, to a pressure higher than the surrounding atmospheric pressure.

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compressed air British  

noun

1. air at a higher pressure than atmospheric pressure: used esp as a source of power for machines

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Etymology

Origin of compressed air

First recorded in 1660–70

Example Sentences

Vanguard also will include a floating structure on the surface of the water to transport compressed air, power the vessel, and allow for communication with the outside world.

From Barron's • Oct. 29, 2025

A professional will inspect your ducts, assess debris levels, access the entire duct system, and use tools like brushes, compressed air and vacuuming to remove accumulated dirt, dust and debris.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 26, 2024

Then came the Windkessel, a chamber in the bottom of a wooden wagon that compressed air to pump water continuously through a hose, creating a steady stream.

From Science Daily • Jan. 23, 2024

The compressed air starts to glow, and when it reaches a temperature of about 2,000 degrees Celsius, the solid material in the meteoroid starts to vaporize.

From Scientific American • Sep. 8, 2023

As anyone who has used such a pump knows, compressed air grows swiftly hot, and the temperature below it would rise to some 60,000 Kelvin, or ten times the surface temperature of the Sun.

From "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson