hydrostat

American  

[hahy-druh-stat] / ˈhaɪ drəˌstæt /

noun

1. an electrical device for detecting the presence of water, as from overflow or leakage.

2. any of various devices for preventing injury to a steam boiler when its water sinks below a certain level.

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hydrostat British  

/ ˈhaɪdrəʊˌstæt /

noun

1. a device that detects the presence of water as a prevention against drying out, overflow, etc, esp one used as a warning in a steam boiler

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Etymology

Origin of hydrostat

First recorded in 1855–60; hydro- ¹ + -stat

Example Sentences

The human tongue is a muscular hydrostat, which, like a water balloon, must maintain the same overall volume when its shape changes.

From Science Magazine • May 24, 2023

An elephant’s proboscis, like a human tongue, is a type of muscular hydrostat: it has no bones, so it can move in myriad ways.

From Scientific American • Dec. 14, 2021