compressor

American  

[kuhm-pres-er] / kəmˈprɛs ər /

noun

• compressors
  plural

1. a person or thing that compresses.

2. Anatomy. a muscle that compresses some part of the body.

3. Surgery. an instrument for compressing a part of the body.

4. a pump or other machine for reducing volume and increasing pressure of gases in order to condense the gases, drive pneumatically powered machinery, etc.

5. Electronics. a transducer that produces an output with a range of voltages whose ratio is smaller than that of the range of the input signal.

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compressor British  

/ kəmˈprɛsə /

noun

1. any reciprocating or rotating device that compresses a gas

2. the part of a gas turbine that compresses the air before it enters the combustion chambers

3. any muscle that causes compression of any part or structure

4. a medical instrument for holding down a part of the body

5. an electronic device for reducing the variation in signal amplitude in a transmission system Compare expander compander

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• compressors
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of compressor

First recorded in 1745–55; compress + -or ²

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Explanation

A compressor is a type of pump that provides power by increasing the pressure on air or another gas. Most gas stations use compressors to provide air for their customers to fill their tires. Compressors are used in a wide variety of ways. Pneumatic power tools, like nail guns, have built-in compressors, as do tools used for spray-painting cars, dental instruments, and even the machinery used to make artificial snow at ski resorts. When this term was first used, around 1785, it referred to a specific surgical instrument, from the Latin root comprimere, "to squeeze."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

compressor compressors

"A few days ago, they ran a compressor test with a big bang... even the children who were asleep woke up in fear," said Ali, a retired paper mill worker.

From Barron's ● Oct. 7, 2026

This step is what brought us here, to Ponysaurus, filling out the online notice to the tune of a hissing compressor that kept clean air moving through the brewing system.

From Salon ● Oct. 4, 2026

In this case, my next recommendation is an air compressor and tire patch kit.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 20, 2026

Going smaller and adding turbochargers—essentially an air compressor that forces more air into an engine and causes it to produce more power—is one way to do this.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026

But for the locomotive idling and a compressor cycling to feed the brakes, the night was ghostly still.

From "Enrique's Journey" by Sonia Nazario

It works on industrial steam turbines, compressors, electrolyzers for hydrogen production, generators and motors across the oil and gas, chemicals, paper, cement and maritime sectors.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026

"High temperatures in the fridges, compressors being ever so noisy, or completely packing up altogether."

From BBC ● Jul. 2, 2026

Capturing the gas requires an expensive system of pipelines, compressors and other infrastructure that can cost more than the gas is worth.

From Salon ● Sep. 4, 2025

A new study calculates that U.S. oil and natural gas wells, pipelines and compressors are spewing three times more methane as the government thinks.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 10, 2024

But later in the summer the mine flooded again, and this time no pumps or compressors were sent.

From "Ceremony:" by Leslie Marmon Silko

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