compressor
/kəmˈpɹɛ.sə(ɹ)/ noun
Forms compressors
- noun A device that produces pressure, such as a gas compressor that produces pressurized gas.
- noun An instrument for compressing an artery (especially the femoral artery) or other part.
- noun An apparatus for confining or flattening between glass plates an object to be examined with the microscope; a compressorium.
- noun A machine for compressing gases, especially an air compressor.
- noun (audio, sound engineering) A device that reduces the dynamic range of an audio signal.
- noun (anatomy) A muscle that compresses certain parts.
- noun (computing) A program or algorithm for compressing data.
Etymology
From compress + -or, or from New Latin compressor.
Webster’s 1913
Etymology [L.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “compressor”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details