thermostat
(t̸hʉr′mə stat′)
noun
- an apparatus for regulating temperature, esp. one that automatically controls a heating or cooling unit
- a device that sets off equipment at a certain temperature, as a fire alarm system
Origin:
thermo- + -stat
See thermostat in American Heritage Dictionary 4
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.
Related Forms:
- therˌmo·statˈic adjective
- therˌmo·statˈi·cal·ly adverb
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