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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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Some areas looked pixelated on the Chromebook, and on the Air I noticed details, like the leaves of a fern or rust on an airlock door, that weren’t as clear on the others.

From The Wall Street Journal Mar. 14, 2026

In recent decades astronauts used an airlock that separates most of a craft from the space vacuum outside - but this SpaceX Dragon capsule was in effect entirely exposed to space outside.

From BBC Sep. 12, 2024

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

A 3-liter glass jar with an airlock lid and ceramic weights will allow you to ferment small quantities of vegetables.

From Seattle Times Dec. 13, 2023

I limped back to the Hab and fumbled my way into an airlock.

From "The Martian" by Andy Weir

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