English

Noun

1. any device used to compensate for something
2. one of several small magnets placed in the binnacle to neutralize the effect of the ship's metal on the compass
3. A building control device used to deliver the compensation relationship or curve between the air temperature outside a building and the temperature of water or air provided to spaces or zones within the building for purposes of heating or cooling. Compensators ensure less heat is provided to a room on a warmer day. They may be implemented mechanically, electronically or in software.

• Pressure control on a piston pump
• A muzzle brake, used to counter the recoil of a firearm, or to prevent the muzzle from climbing during rapid fire
• A device that offsets or counterbalances a destabilising factor: See
  • Buoyancy compensator
  • Static VAr compensator
  • Heisenberg compensator
  • Lead-lag compensator
• Motion compensator
• Optical compensator also known as a Retarder; examples include a Half-wave plate and a Quarter-wave plate