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| valve [ valv ] (plural valves) |
noun |
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| Definition: |
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1. engineering device that controls liquid flow: a device that controls the movement of liquids or gases through pipes or other passages by opening or closing ports and channels
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2. music part on brass instrument: a device in some brass instruments that diverts air down tubes of varying length, thereby altering the pitch
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3. U.K. electronics
Same as vacuum tube
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4. anatomy closable flap in organ: a membranous structure in a hollow organ or vessel such as the heart or a vein that prevents the return flow of fluid passing through it by folding or closing
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5. botany part of seed pod: a segment of the wall of a seed pod or other fruit that splits apart to reveal the contents
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6. botany anther flap: a flap that acts like a lid in some types of anthers
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7. botany part of cell wall: either of the two parts of the silica-impregnated cell wall of a type of alga diatom that fit together like the lid and base of a box
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8. zoology separable part of shell: a hinged part of the shell of a brachiopod or some mollusks
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9. zoology single-unit shell: the single-unit shell of a snail and some other mollusks
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| [15th century. < Latin valva "leaf of a folding door"] |
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  valved adjective |
| valve·less adjective |
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