valve: Meaning and Definition of

valve

Pronunciation: (valv), [key]
— n., v., valved, valv•ing.
—n.
  1. any device for halting or controlling the flow of a liquid, gas, or other material through a passage, pipe, inlet, outlet, etc.
  2. a hinged lid or other movable part that closes or modifies the passage in such a device.
  3. a membranous fold or other structure that controls the flow of a fluid, as one that permits blood to flow in one direction only.
  4. (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.
    1. one of the two or more separable pieces composing certain shells.
    2. either half of the silicified shell of a diatom.
    1. one of the segments into which a capsule dehisces.
    2. a flap or lidlike part of certain anthers.
  5. See(def. 1).
  6. one of the leaves of a double or folding door.
—v.t.
  1. to provide with a means of controlling the flow of liquid, gas, etc., by inserting a valve.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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