VALVE


Meaning of VALVE in English

n.

Pronunciation: ' valv

Function: noun

Etymology: Latin valva; akin to Latin volvere to roll ― more at VOLUBLE

Date: 14th century

1 archaic : a leaf of a folding or double door

2 [New Latin valva, from L] : a bodily structure (as the mitral valve) that closes temporarily a passage or orifice or permits movement of fluid in one direction only

3 a : any of numerous mechanical devices by which the flow of liquid, gas, or loose material in bulk may be started, stopped, or regulated by a movable part that opens, shuts, or partially obstructs one or more ports or passageways also : the movable part of such a device b : a device in a brass instrument for quickly channeling air flow through an added length of tube in order to change the fundamental tone by some definite interval c chiefly British : ELECTRON TUBE

4 [New Latin valva, from L] : one of the distinct usually hinged and movable pieces of which the shell of some shell-bearing animals (as lamellibranch mollusks, brachiopods, and barnacles) consists

5 [New Latin valva, from L] a : one of the segments or pieces into which a dehiscing capsule or legume separates b : the portion of various anthers (as of the barberry) resembling a lid c : one of the two encasing membranes of a diatom

– valved \ ' valvd \ adjective

– valve · less \ ' valv-l ə s \ adjective

Merriam Webster Collegiate English Dictionary.      Merriam Webster - Энциклопедический словарь английского языка.