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airlock

British  
/ ˈɛəˌlɒk /

noun

  1. a bubble in a pipe causing an obstruction or stoppage to the flow

  2. an airtight chamber with regulated air pressure used to gain access to a space that has air under pressure

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

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The weekend-to-work transition became less painful, too: Mondays were like an airlock between my weekend downtime and my workweek of meetings and calls.

From The Wall Street Journal Feb. 25, 2026

Rosemary's job is to reach him, check his condition – and tow him back to the airlock.

From BBC May 14, 2025

Due to the lack of an airlock on the Crew Dragon, the 13-foot-wide capsule will be depressurized and exposed to space during the walk.

From Los Angeles Times Aug. 26, 2024

The moment that struck her the most was leaving the airlock for underwater space walk simulation when the instructor said, “Welcome to space.”

From Seattle Times Apr. 22, 2024

The 91-Tangos shuffled out through the airlock corridor, two by two, numb and tired beyond feeling, soaked with sweat and continual fear.

From "The Hot Zone" by Richard Preston

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