Thermostat - Definition And Meaning - Wordnik

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Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A device, as in a home heating system, a refrigerator, or an air conditioner, that automatically responds to temperature changes and activates switches controlling the equipment.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun An automatic instrument or apparatus for regulating temperature.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun (Physics) A device which automatically regulates temperature, or provides a signal used by another device to regulate temperature. The temperature-sensitive signal may be electronic, as that produced by a thermocouple. The signal may also be caused mechanically, as by the unequal expansion of different metals, liquids, or gases by heat, which can then cause the opening or closing of the damper of a stove, or the like, as the heat becomes greater or less than is desired.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun a device that automatically responds to changes in temperature by activating a heating or cooling system to maintain the temperature at a desired setting

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a regulator for automatically regulating temperature by starting or stopping the supply of heat
  • verb control the temperature with a thermostat

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

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Examples

  • In that context, he says, tinkering with the thermostat is almost meaningless.

    Can Changing Behavior Really Make a Difference? 2010

  • Indeed, even a thermostat is an aggregate of matter making a truth claim (and modifying its behavior based on that claim) about another aggregate of matter (the air).

    Pew and the Democratic War on Science. - Moe_Lane’s blog - RedState 2009

  • The Toasty, due this spring for $60 (www. ionaudio.com), is a fleece electric blanket with sleeves that also features a built-in thermostat and controls to keep you at the right temperature while watching TV or reading.

    CES: An electric Snuggie 2010

  • The concept that Carol Browner would have control over a national thermostat is frankly bizarre:

    Wonk Room » Glenn Beck Attacks Smart Grid As Socialist Plot To Steal Our Thermostats 2009

  • I think the whole idea that people can adjust their work-life balances like twiddling a knob on a thermostat is fatuous.

    Humour Maxine 2009

  • Now that it's November, our office thermostat is set lower - some might say, chilly, or even, perhaps, freezing.

    Rivalry frankwu 2009

  • I think the whole idea that people can adjust their work-life balances like twiddling a knob on a thermostat is fatuous.

    Psychology/Psychotherapy Maxine 2007

  • My thermostat is set to heat my house up to 66, but when it is minus 12 out, 66 even made me shiver.

    As Slow as Molasses « So Many Books 2006

  • Maybe my internal thermostat is just set on high, but I do suffer down here in the summer.

    Worst places/worst climates in Mexico? 2005

  • I noticed that a millivolt thermostat is offered as an option.

    Radiant heating 2004

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hypernyms (7)

Words that are more generic or abstract

  1. check
  2. contain
  3. control
  4. curb
  5. hold
  6. hold in
  7. moderate

same context (25)

Words that are found in similar contexts

  1. actuator
  2. air-conditioner
  3. barometer
  4. caching
  5. conditioner
  6. deckedge
  7. elec
  8. front-panel
  9. heater
  10. insulation
  11. limiter
  12. on/off
  13. plumb
  14. regulator
  15. relay
  16. reset
  17. selector
  18. shutoff
  19. stopcock
  20. superconductors
  21. thermometer
  22. throttle
  23. thumbwheel
  24. timer
  25. windage

forms (2)

Forms

  1. thermostats
  2. thermostatically

cross-references (2)

Cross-references

  1. electropneumatic thermostat
  2. simmerstat

Wordmap

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Word visualization

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.

  • reesetee commented on the word thermostat

    Printed sign under one of the thermostats in my office building: "Do Not Change"

    Handwritten below it: "You're perfect the way you are."

    November 22, 2008

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