A mechanical device that increases the pressure of gas or air by reducing its volume. Used in refrigeration, air conditioning, and industrial applications.
From Latin 'comprimere' meaning 'to press together,' formed from 'com-' (together) plus 'premere' (to press). The mechanical device sense emerged in the 19th century with industrial development.
Every time you hear a refrigerator hum, you're listening to a compressor at work - it's squeezing refrigerant gas so tightly that it becomes hot, then letting it expand and cool to create the cold temperatures inside. The same principle powers everything from air brakes on trucks to the pneumatic tools that build skyscrapers.
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