compressed air

noun

: air under pressure greater than that of the atmosphere

Examples of compressed air in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Except, in this case, the bottle is a layer of porous rocks deep within the sea bed, and the energy comes from compressed air. Bill Andrews, Discover Magazine, 22 Jan. 2019 The researchers unveiled the details behind the plan, dubbed porous media compressed air energy storage (PM-CAES), in a Nature Energy paper this week. Bill Andrews, Discover Magazine, 22 Jan. 2019 Huffing compressed air can cause a brief high with dangerous side effects including paralysis, according to the American Addiction Centers. Peter Sblendorio New York Daily News (tns), al, 8 Nov. 2022 The air guns then fire compressed air that creates sound pulses that reverberate off the sea floor and provide subsurface images. Washington Post, 26 Apr. 2022 That compressed air inside the pump and shoved water into a tube. John Fialka, Scientific American, 8 Sep. 2021 Prosecutors argue Streater breathed from a compressed air canister to get high, then drove recklessly and caused the violent crash. Marc Freeman, sun-sentinel.com, 27 June 2021 Try Blow-Off, which is a compressed air duster for keyboards. USA TODAY, 6 May 2021 An alternative method for fixing dents in plastic car body parts uses heat and compressed air from a can. Jeff Harper, chicagotribune.com, 11 Mar. 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'compressed air.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1669, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of compressed air was in 1669

Dictionary Entries Near compressed air

Cite this Entry

“Compressed air.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/compressed%20air. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

compressed air

noun
com·​pressed air
kəm-ˌprest-
: air under pressure greater than that of the atmosphere

Medical Definition

compressed air

noun
: air under pressure greater than that of the atmosphere
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