air lock

¹ American  

noun

1. Civil Engineering. an airtight chamber permitting passage to or from a space, as in a caisson, in which the air is kept under pressure.

2. the impedance in the functioning of a pump or a system of piping caused by the presence of an air bubble; vapor lock.

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air-lock ² American  

[air-lok] / ˈɛərˌlɒk /

verb (used with object)

1. to place in or confine to an air lock.

   to air-lock divers before they descend.

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Etymology

Origin of air lock¹

First recorded in 1855–60

Origin of air-lock²

First recorded in 1855–60

Example Sentences

More than a foot of snow could be seen across the mid-Atlantic region, forecasters warned, with Virginia and Maryland likely to bear the brunt as arctic air locks in.

From Barron's

Inside, the heavy blast doors and air locks tell you that his too could be a target for any adversary.

From BBC

Customers still experiencing ongoing problems as isolated issues were likely to be affected by an air lock, SWW said, and those affected should contact it.

From BBC

Anticipation and tension grew as the crew prepared to open the hatch on the craft that has no air lock, or doorway between the vacuum outside and the rest of the spacecraft.

From BBC

The company said the issues were caused by "air locks" in the network as it re-pressurises and its teams had been working throughout the night.

From BBC