compactor

IPA/kəmˈpæktə(r)/
KK[kəmpˈæktɚ]IPA/kəmˈpæktər/

compactor — noun

  • compactorsingular
  • compactorsplural

1. equipment used to squeeze waste or other bulky material into a smaller block so

1.nounC1
Definition

equipment used to squeeze waste or other bulky material into a smaller block so it takes up less room

Example

The restaurant's compactor crushed a week's worth of boxes in minutes.

shows a machine reducing bulky waste fast

After closing time, Femi rolled the trash bin to the compactor.

pattern: move waste to the compactor

Common collocations
  • trash compactor
  • industrial compactor
  • empty the compactor
  • feed pallets into the compactor
Synonyms
  • trash compactor

    the common label when the machine is specifically for rubbish

  • baler

    narrower, usually for pressing cardboard or plastic into tied bundles

Grammar Patterns

a trash compactor

put [waste] into a compactor

Usage Note

Usually refers to equipment for rubbish, cardboard, or other bulky waste. For road work or soil, speakers often specify a road compactor or roller.

Common Mistakes

Put the old cardboard in the crusher behind the shop.
Put the old cardboard in the compactor behind the shop.
A crusher breaks material apart, while a compactor presses waste so it takes less space.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

A compactor presses loose waste so it takes up less room in a bin, truck, or storage area. A crusher focuses on breaking hard material such as stone, glass, or scrap into smaller pieces, not simply packing it tightly. A baler is used mainly for cardboard, paper, or plastic that will be tied into neat blocks for recycling. If a hotel squeezes mixed rubbish behind the kitchen, compactor is the best word. If a yard smashes old concrete, crusher fits better. If a supermarket bundles clean boxes for pickup, baler is usually more exact.

compactor ↗crusher ↗baler

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • trash compactor
  • industrial compactor
  • empty the compactor
  • call maintenance when the compactor jams

Etymology

LatinEnglish

Formed in English from compact plus the agent suffix -or, naming a machine that makes material compact. The older verb compact comes through Latin roots meaning 'press closely together'.