valve

valve — noun

1. A movable component in a pipe, machine, or body organ that allows or stops the m

1.nounB1
Definition

A movable component in a pipe, machine, or body organ that allows or stops the movement of liquid or gas, often ensuring it travels in only one direction.

Example

Aylin turned the valve on the water pipe to stop the leak in the kitchen.

collocation: turn a valve

After the surgery, a new valve helped Joon's heart pump blood normally.

biological context: heart valve in human body

Common collocations
  • turn a valve
  • open a valve
  • close a valve
  • safety valve
  • heart valve
  • gas valve
  • water valve
Synonyms
  • tap

    British English term for a water valve with a spout; does not apply to heart valves or gas valves

  • faucet

    American English term for a water valve with a spout; limited to household water fixtures

  • stopcock

    Technical term for a valve that regulates flow through a pipe, common in laboratory settings

Usage Note

Can refer to both mechanical devices in pipes and natural structures in the heart and veins. For heart valves, the specific term in Chinese is 瓣膜 (bànmó).

Common Mistakes

Please turn off the valve of the window.
Please turn the valve on the pipe to shut off the water.
Valves control the flow of liquids or gases, not openings like doors or windows.

2. A button or lever on brass instruments such as trumpets and horns that the playe

2.nounB1
Definition

A button or lever on brass instruments such as trumpets and horns that the player presses to send air through different passages, producing higher or lower notes.

Example

Élise pressed the valves on her trumpet to play the higher notes correctly.

collocation: press a valve (on brass instruments)

On a French horn, the player's left hand operates the three main valves.

Common collocations
  • press a valve
  • trumpet valve
  • sticky valve
  • valve oil
Synonyms
  • piston

    Refers specifically to the sliding inner cylinder of a valve mechanism on brass instruments; more technical than 'valve'

Usage Note

Found on brass instruments like the trumpet, cornet, French horn, and tuba. Woodwind instruments use 'keys' instead of valves, although the function is similar.

Common Mistakes

He pressed the valve on his guitar.
He pressed the valve on his trumpet to change the note.
Valves are a feature of brass instruments, not string instruments like the guitar.

Word family

  • valved
    adjectiveC1
  • valveless
    adjectiveC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Valve, tap, faucet, and regulator all control the movement of liquids or gases, but they differ in scope and use. 'Valve' is the broadest term, covering everything from water pipes to heart chambers to industrial gas lines. 'Tap' (British) and 'faucet' (American) refer specifically to a valve with a spout that releases water for everyday use, such as at a sink — you would not call a heart valve a 'tap' or a 'faucet.' A 'regulator' is a type of valve designed to maintain a steady pressure or flow rate rather than simply turning flow on or off. For example: 'The plumber replaced the kitchen faucet,' but 'A faulty gas valve caused the leak,' and 'The pressure regulator kept the air supply stable.'

valve ↗tap ↗faucetregulator ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • replacement valve
  • valve mechanism
  • valve system