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butterfly valve

American  

noun

  1. a clack valve having two flaps with a common hinge.

  2. a valve, as the throttle valve in a carburetor, that swings about a central axis across its face.


butterfly valve British  

noun

  1. a disc that acts as a valve by turning about a diameter, esp one used as the throttle valve in a carburettor

  2. a non-return valve consisting of two semicircular plates hinged about a common central spindle

"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

Etymology

Origin of butterfly valve

First recorded in 1860–65

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

A small anchor splashed into the river, while Jack, putting on an old jumper and overalls, kept for such emergencies, took off the carburetor and proceeded to examine it, from cork float to butterfly valve.

From The Motor Girls at Camp Surprise The Cave in the Mountains by Penrose, Margaret

In the secondary system A is a cold-air passage, T a butterfly valve and J a gasoline jet discharging into the cold-air passage.

From Aviation Engines Design?Construction?Operation and Repair by Pag?, Victor Wilfred

At higher speeds with the butterfly valve opened further the priming well ceases to operate and the compound nozzle drains the well and compensates correctly for any motor speed.

From Aviation Engines Design?Construction?Operation and Repair by Pag?, Victor Wilfred