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 thatautomatically responds tochanges intemperature byactivating aheating orcooling system tomaintain the temperature at a desiredsetting
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
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In that context, he says, tinkering with the thermostat is almost meaningless.
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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
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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.
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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
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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
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Now that it's November, our office thermostat is set lower - some might say, chilly, or even, perhaps, freezing.
Rivalry frankwu 2009
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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
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My thermostat is set to heat my house up to 66, but when it is minus 12 out, 66 even made me shiver.
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Maybe my internal thermostat is just set on high, but I do suffer down here in the summer.
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I noticed that a millivolt thermostat is offered as an option.
Radiant heating 2004
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