Thermostat Definition & Meaning

American

British

Scientific

Cultural

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Examples

Related Words

Synonyms thermostat American [thur-muh-stat] / ˈθɜr məˌstæt /

noun

1. a device, including a relay actuated by thermal conduction or convection, that functions to establish and maintain a desired temperature automatically or signals a change in temperature for manual adjustment.

verb (used with object)

thermostatted, thermostated, thermostatting, thermostating

1. to equip or control with a thermostat.

thermostat British / ˈθɜːməˌstæt /

noun

1. a device that maintains a system at a constant temperature. It often consists of a bimetallic strip that bends as it expands and contracts with temperature, thus breaking and making contact with an electrical power supply

2. a similar device that actuates equipment, such as a sprinkler, when a certain temperature is reached

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 thermostat Scientific / thûr′mə-stăt′ /

1. A device that automatically controls heating or cooling equipment in such a way as to maintain a temperature at a constant level or within a specified range, generally using a thermometer capable of triggering electrical switches that activate or deactivate the equipment.

thermostat Cultural

1. A device that monitors and automatically responds to changes in temperature and activates switches controlling devices such as furnaces or air conditioners.

Other Word Forms

• thermostatic adjective
• thermostatically adverb

Etymology

Origin of thermostat

First recorded in 1825–35; thermo- + -stat

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

I slept peacefully and appreciated the room’s functionality, including a tablet that controlled the lights, thermostat and TV.

From The Wall Street Journal

Though Americans crank up the thermostat every winter, price increases for electricity and gas utility bills were not as sharp at the same point last year.

From MarketWatch

It is often called a silent killer because most heat deaths occur gradually as high temperatures and other environmental factors work together to undermine the body's internal thermostat.

From Barron's

Utilities in the Midwest on Saturday directed customers to lower thermostats, unplug “nonessential appliances,” and reduce temperature settings on electric water heaters.

From The Wall Street Journal

Money saving is already ingrained at home, with batch cooking, more prudent selections on the thermostat, and warming the body rather than the whole home having become the norm for many people.

From BBC

Related Words

• manager

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.