VALVE
valve
(noun) one of the paired hinged shells of certain molluscs and of brachiopods
valve
(noun) the entire one-piece shell of a snail and certain other molluscs
valve
(noun) control consisting of a mechanical device for controlling the flow of a fluid
valve
(noun) device in a brass wind instrument for varying the length of the air column to alter the pitch of a tone
valve
(noun) a structure in a hollow organ (like the heart) with a flap to insure one-way flow of fluid through it
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Noun
valve (plural valves)
A device that controls the flow of a gas or fluid through a pipe.
A device that admits fuel and air into the cylinder of an internal combustion engine, or one that allows combustion gases to exit.
(anatomy) One or more membranous partitions, flaps, or folds, which permit the passage of the contents of a vessel or cavity in one direction, but stop or control the flow in the opposite direction
One of the leaves of a folding-door, or a window-sash.
(British) A vacuum tube.
(botany) One of the pieces into which certain fruits naturally separate when they dehisce.
(botany) A small portion of certain anthers, which opens like a trapdoor to allow the pollen to escape, such as in the barberry.
(biology) One of the pieces or divisions of bivalve or multivalve shells.
(biology) One of the two similar portions of the shell of a diatom.
Verb
valve (third-person singular simple present valves, present participle valving, simple past and past participle valved)
(transitive) To control (flow) by means of a valve.
Anagrams
• Velva
Source: Wiktionary
Valve, n. Etym: [L. valva the leaf, fold, or valve of a door: cf. F.
valve.]
1. A door; especially, one of a pair of folding doors, or one of the
leaves of such a door.
Swift through the valves the visionary fair Repassed. Pope.
Heavily closed, . . . the valves of the barn doors. Longfellow.
2. A lid, plug, or cover, applied to an aperture so that by its
movement, as by swinging, lifting and falling, sliding, turning, or
the like, it will open or close the aperture to permit or prevent
passage, as of a fluid.
Note: A valve may act automatically so as to be opened by the effort
of a fluid to pass in one direction, and closed by the effort to pass
in the other direction, as a clack valve; or it may be opened or
closed by hand or by mechanism, as a screw valve, or a slide valve.
3. (Anat.)
Definition: One or more membranous partitions, flaps, or folds, which
permit the passage of the contents of a vessel or cavity in one
direction, but stop or retard the flow in the opposite direction; as,
the ileocolic, mitral, and semilunar valves.
4. (Bot.)
(a) One of the pieces into which a capsule naturally separates when
it bursts.
(b) One of the two similar portions of the shell of a diatom.
(c) A small portion of certain anthers, which opens like a trapdoor
to allow the pollen to escape, as in the barberry.
5. (Zoöl.)
Definition: One of the pieces or divisions of bivalve or multivalve shells.
Air valve, Ball valve, Check valve, etc. See under Air. Ball, Check,
etc.
– Double-beat valve, a kind of balance valve usually consisting of
a movable, open-ended, turban-shaped shell provided with two faces of
nearly equal diameters, one above another, which rest upon two
corresponding seats when the valve is closed.
– Equilibrium valve. (a) A balance valve. See under Balance. (b) A
valve for permitting air, steam, water, etc., to pass into or out of
a chamber so as to establish or maintain equal pressure within and
without.
– Valve chest (Mach.), a chamber in which a valve works; especially
(Steam Engine), the steam chest; -- called in England valve box, and
valve casing. See Steam chest, under Steam.
– Valve face (Mach.), that part of the surface of a valve which
comes in contact with the valve seat.
– Valve gear, or Valve motion (Steam Engine), the system of parts
by which motion is given to the valve or valves for the distribution
of steam in the cylinder. For an illustration of one form of valve
gear, see Link motion.
– Valve seat. (Mach.) (a) The fixed surface on which a valve rests
or against which it presses. (b) A part or piece on which such a
surface is formed.
– Valve stem (Mach.), a rod attached to a valve, for moving it.
– Valve yoke (Mach.), a strap embracing a slide valve and
connecting it to the valve stem.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition