thermostatn.
/ˈθəːməʊstat/ a. An automatic apparatus for regulating temperature; esp. a device in which the expansive force of metals or gas acts directly upon the source of heat, ventilation, or the like, or controls them indirectly by opening and closing an electric circuit.
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the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > measurement of temperature > [noun] > regulation of temperature > device for regulating temperature
thermostat1835
thermo-regulator1875
1835 A. Ure Philos. Manuf. 26 The instrument, for which I have obtained a patent, under the name of the heat-governor, or thermostat.
1837 Ure in Abstr. Papers Royal Soc. 3 67 On the Thermostat or Heat Governor, a self-acting physical Apparatus for regulating Temperature.
1877 C. W. Thomson Voy. ‘Challenger’ I. i. 34 The size of the iron frame was arranged so as to receive one of Bunsen's thermostats in ordinary use in laboratories.
1899 J. Cagney tr. R. von Jaksch Clin. Diagnosis (ed. 4) ii. 107 The test-tube containing the infected serum is now placed in a thermostat, maintained at 36·5°–37° C.
b. An apparatus which gives notice of undue increase of temperature; an automatic fire-alarm.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > danger > warning of imminent danger or evil > [noun] > warning arousing the unwary > device for sounding alarm > device warning of fire
fire bell1596
fire-drum1739
fire alarm1763
fire-roll1830
thermostat1881
thermo-call1895
1881 Philad. Record No. 3462. 4 The thermostat, which gives an alarm as soon as the temperature of the room where it may be rises to 100°.
1908 Daily Chron. 24 Aug. 6/3 The thermostat is usually attached to the ceiling, and immediately an abnormal and dangerous rise of temperature occurs the metal bars expand.
Derivatives
thermostat v. transitive, to regulate the temperature of (a substance or a piece of apparatus) by means of a thermostat.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > measurement of temperature > measure temperature [verb (transitive)] > regulate temperature by thermostat
thermostat1940
1940 Brit. Jrnl. Psychol. July 63 The tests were done in a roughly thermostated water-bath.
1950 W. J. Moore Physical Chem. xv. 424 The cell must be well thermostated since the conductivity increases with the temperature.
1967 D. Margerison & G. C. East Introd. Polymer Chem. ii. 94 The data..were obtained using solutions of polystyrene in benzene illuminated by light of 5461Å and thermostatted at 25°C.
ˈthermostated adj. (also ˈthermostatted)
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the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > measurement of temperature > [adjective] > regulating temperature > regulated
thermoregulated1932
thermostated1962
1962 Plant & Cell Physiol. III. 212 The temperature of the algal suspension was controlled by flowing thermostated water on the surface of the vessel.
1979 Nature 25 Jan. 291/2 The complete reaction chamber was heated in a thermostatted oven.
thermoˈstatic adj. of, pertaining to, or of the nature of a thermostat.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > measurement of temperature > [adjective] > regulating temperature
thermostatic1839
thermoregulating1917
thermoregulative1927
thermoregulatory1949
1839 A. Ure Dict. Arts 1237 A single thermostatic bar, consisting of two or more bars or rulers of differently expansible solids..firmly riveted or soldered together, face to face... A thermostatic hoop.
1877 E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. Thermostatic Alarm, a device to give a signal when a certain temperature is attained.
1883 Cassell's Family Mag. Aug. 537/2 Frost tell-tales..can be readily constructed by employing a thermostatic spring.
thermoˈstatically adv. by means of a thermostat.
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the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > measurement of temperature > [adverb] > regulating temperature by thermostat
thermostatically1891
1891 Cent. Dict. (at cited word) A thermostatically adjusted radiator.
thermoˈstatics n. [after hydrostatics] (plural) name suggested for the theory of the equilibrium of heat.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > heat > [noun] > science or study of > specific
thermokinematics1871
thermostatics1871
thermophysics1962
1871 J. C. Maxwell Theory of Heat Introd. 9 The theory of the equilibrium of heat might be called Thermostatics, and that of the motion of heat Thermokinematics.
1963 G. L. Pickard Descriptive Physical Oceanogr. vi. 86 This necessitates thermostating the samples to ± 0·001C° during measurement.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1912; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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n.1835