valve

Pluralvalves

Formsvalves, valving, valved

1. 1
   nouncountable

   A device that controls how gas or liquid flows through a pipe or other space.

   Turn the valve to stop the water before you fix the sink.

   The gas valve under the stove was left open all night.

   Note
2. 2
   nouncountable

   A thin flap inside a tube or space in the body that lets things flow one way but not back.

   A valve in his heart does not close all the way.

   Valves in the veins of your legs help keep blood moving toward your heart.

   Note
3. 3
   nouncountable

   A part in an engine, such as a car engine, that lets fuel and air in or burned gases out.

   The mechanic said one valve in my engine was stuck.

   When the valves open and close too late, the engine runs badly.

   Note
4. 4
   nounBritishcountable

   A closed tube with no air inside that is used in electronic equipment.

   My granddad's old radio stopped working because a valve had blown.

   The valves in the amplifier glow orange when it is switched on.

   Similartube

   Note
5. 5
   verbtransitive

   To use a valve to control how much of something flows.

   The workers valve the water into the tank a little at a time.

   She valved the gas in slowly so the pressure would not jump.

   Similarregulate, meter

6. 6
   nouncountable

   One of the parts of a shell that is made of two or more pieces.

   She found one valve of a mussel shell on the beach.

   The two valves of a clam shell close tight when you touch it.

   Note
7. 7
   nouncountable

   One of the panels of a folding door or of a window frame.

   She pushed open one valve of the folding door and stepped into the garden.

   Both valves of the old window were stuck shut with paint.

   Similarleaf, panel

8. 8
   nouncountable

   One of the parts that some seed pods split into when they open by themselves.

   When the pea pod dried, each valve curled back and the peas fell out.

   The seed case split into three valves.

   Note
9. 9
   nouncountable

   One of the two nearly matching halves of the shell of a diatom, a tiny living thing found in water.

   The student drew one valve of the diatom, covered in tiny holes.

   The two valves of a diatom are marked with fine lines and dots.

   Note
10. 10
    nouncountable

    A tiny flap on the pollen part of some flowers that opens like a little door to let the pollen out.

    On a sunny morning, each tiny valve on the flower lifts up and lets the pollen out.

    We used a magnifying glass to watch the valves open on the barberry flower.

    Note

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