relief valve

American  

noun

1. a device that, when actuated by static pressure above a predetermined level, opens in proportion to the excess above this level and reduces the pressure to it.

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Example Sentences

In recent weeks, clumps of ships, some of them the world’s largest tankers laden with oil and liquefied natural gas, have traversed the dangerous crossing, creating a tiny relief valve for the global economy.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 30, 2026

A relief valve was activated and an overhead sprinkler system was activated to cool down the chemical, said interim Orange County Fire Authority Chief TJ McGovern.

From Los Angeles Times • May 22, 2026

"Combined storm overflows are a pressure relief valve for the wastewater network," NI Water's Director of Engineering and Sustainability Gary Curran explained.

From BBC • Apr. 23, 2024

Then they hit $56.01 in June and $63.03 in September, both times triggering supplemental auctions meant to act as a relief valve to steady prices.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 8, 2023

It was as if he had been holding himself in and the self-contained pressure had grown acute when the insolent chauffeur presented himself as a relief valve.

From Burned Bridges by Sinclair, Bertrand W.