heat pump

American  

noun

1. a device that uses a compressible refrigerant to transfer heat from one body, as the ground, air, or water, to another body, as a building, with the process being reversible.

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heat pump British  

noun

1. a device, as used in a refrigerator, for extracting heat from a source and delivering it elsewhere at a much higher temperature

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Etymology

Origin of heat pump

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

The heat pump will yield lower utility bills for summer cooling because they use far less electricity than traditional air conditioners.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 18, 2026

Savings depend on energy prices and how efficiently the heat pump works.

From BBC • Mar. 24, 2026

Then they paid for the heat pump itself, and the under-floor heating.

From BBC • Mar. 22, 2026

There is a debate about whether a good heat pump really does lose that much efficiency, but it is generally best to think of the technology as offering a different, slower form of heating.

From BBC • Mar. 22, 2026

The air from the heat pump is making the sheet lift up just a bit.

From "Mockingbird" by Kathryn Erskine