valve
any device for halting or controlling the flow of a liquid, gas, or other material through a passage, pipe, inlet, outlet, etc.
a hinged lid or other movable part that closes or modifies the passage in such a device.
Anatomy. a membranous fold or other structure that controls the flow of a fluid, as one that permits blood to flow in one direction only.
(in musical wind instruments of the trumpet class) a device for changing the length of the air column to alter the pitch of a tone.
Zoology.
one of the two or more separable pieces composing certain shells.
either half of the silicified shell of a diatom.
Botany.
one of the segments into which a capsule dehisces.
a flap or lidlike part of certain anthers.
Electronics (chiefly British). vacuum tube (def. 1).
Archaic. one of the leaves of a double or folding door.
to provide with a means of controlling the flow of liquid, gas, etc., by inserting a valve.
Origin of valve
1Other words from valve
- valveless, adjective
- valvelike, adjective
- un·der·valve, noun
Words Nearby valve
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use valve in a sentence
It is more in the shutting off of the valve that you are inclined to struggle.
Two historical mystery novels plunge readers into the past while keeping them guessing | Clare McHugh | February 8, 2021 | Washington PostThese days, the bags usually have valves on them to prevent dust escaping, and when the bag is full, it’s relatively easy and mess-free to dispose of the entire bag and its dusty contents.
Air also exits through a valve located elsewhere on the hood.
Those ‘gas masks’ at the Capitol were actually escape hoods | Rob Verger | January 11, 2021 | Popular-ScienceI have now found the irrigation line for that half of the house, confirmed it by turning the valve off, and also went into the crawl space to confirm it’s using soft water.
Some valved masks do have filters between the valve and the outside world, he says, which would reduce or prevent the spread of the virus.
Why you should think twice before opting for a valved N95 mask | Kat Eschner | November 12, 2020 | Popular-Science
Such and such a time, such and such a day, then trouble with the valve.
Alfred Hitchcock’s Fade to Black: The Great Director’s Final Days | David Freeman | December 13, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThe flawed valve was rapidly replaced by a more robust system.
The Exemplary Plane at the Heart of the MH370 Mystery | Clive Irving | March 27, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThis safety valve allows citizens to sound the alarm and challenge those whose views are hateful and totalitarian.
The Opponents of Militant Islamism Are Often As Bigoted as Their Targets | Jacob Mchangama | December 7, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST[W] thout an exchange-rate safety valve you need an alternate way to rebalance economies.
He also might have a heart-valve problem, but recovery from repair of these generally takes longer than a few days.
John Edwards Doctor's Notes Push Back Trial: Is He Really Sick? | Kent Sepkowitz | January 14, 2012 | THE DAILY BEASTA feed-pump forced water into the boilers; each had a safety-valve with a lever and weight.
Life of Richard Trevithick, Volume II (of 2) | Francis TrevithickThe valve-seat H has formed on its lower surface two crescent shaped long and narrow slits.
The Recent Revolution in Organ Building | George Laing MillerThe discharge-valve was then opened for a moment, allowing a blast of steam to escape, reducing the pressure say to one-half.
Life of Richard Trevithick, Volume II (of 2) | Francis TrevithickThe valve open while the plunger-pole ascended 20 inches, then went the remainder of the 10-feet stroke expansive.
Life of Richard Trevithick, Volume II (of 2) | Francis TrevithickThe engine boy having fixed the safety-valve while he fished for eels, caused an explosion of the boiler.
Life of Richard Trevithick, Volume II (of 2) | Francis Trevithick
British Dictionary definitions for valve
/ (vælv) /
any device that shuts off, starts, regulates, or controls the flow of a fluid
anatomy a flaplike structure in a hollow organ, such as the heart, that controls the one-way passage of fluid through that organ
Also called: tube, vacuum tube an evacuated electron tube containing a cathode, anode, and, usually, one or more additional control electrodes. When a positive potential is applied to the anode, electrons emitted from the cathode are attracted to the anode, constituting a flow of current which can be controlled by a voltage applied to the grid to produce amplification, oscillation, etc: See also diode (def. 2), triode (def. 1), tetrode, pentode
zoology any of the separable pieces that make up the shell of a mollusc
music a device on some brass instruments by which the effective length of the tube may be varied to enable a chromatic scale to be produced
botany
any of the several parts that make up a dry dehiscent fruit, esp a capsule
either of the two halves of a diatom cell wall
archaic a leaf of a double door or of a folding door
Origin of valve
1Derived forms of valve
- valveless, adjective
- valvelike, adjective
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
Scientific definitions for valve
[ vălv ]
Any of various mechanical devices that control the flow of liquids, gases, or loose material through pipes or channels by blocking and uncovering openings.
The movable part or element of such a device.
Any of various structures that prevent the backward flow of a body fluid, such as blood or lymph. Valves in the heart, veins, and lymphatic vessels contain flaps (known as cusps) that close in response to pressure created by the backflow of fluid.
One of the paired hinged shells of certain mollusks, such as clams and oysters.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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