COMPRESSOR

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does compressor mean? 

• COMPRESSOR (noun)
  The noun COMPRESSOR has 1 sense:

1. a mechanical device that compresses gasses

  Familiarity information: COMPRESSOR used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• COMPRESSOR (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A mechanical device that compresses gasses

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("compressor" is a kind of...):

mechanical device (mechanism consisting of a device that works on mechanical principles)

Meronyms (parts of "compressor"):

cylinder; piston chamber (a chamber within which piston moves)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "compressor"):

air compressor (a compressor that takes in air at atmospheric pressure and delivers it at a higher pressure)

supercharger (compressor that forces increased oxygen into the cylinders of an internal-combustion engine)

Derivation:

compress (squeeze or press together)

 Context examples 

Treatment in which a storage tank of oxygen or a machine called a compressor is used to give oxygen to people with breathing problems.

(Oxygen Therapy, NCI Dictionary)

Treatment in which a storage tank of oxygen or a machine called a compressor is used at home to give oxygen to people for the treatment of chronic lung disease.

(Home Oxygen Therapy, NCI Thesaurus/CDISC)