valve

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Medicine

n. a part of the heart or a vein that keeps blood flowing in the right direction.

n. a membranous fold or flap in a hollow organ or vessel that maintains the unidirectional flow of bodily fluids.

“The doctor checked the patient's heart valves to make sure they were working correctly.”

“Mitral valve prolapse occurs when the flaps of the heart's mitral valve do not close smoothly or evenly.”

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Computing British English · Technical

n. an old-fashioned electronic part used in early radios and computers.

n. an electron tube consisting of a sealed glass or metal enclosure used to control electron flow.

“The old radio still uses glass valves instead of modern chips.”

“Early mainframe computers relied on thousands of thermionic valves, which generated immense heat and required frequent replacement.”

C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Science Technical

n. one of the two parts of a shell, like those on a clam or an oyster.

n. one of the distinct, usually hinged, shells of a bivalve mollusc or the shell-like parts of certain other organisms.

“The clam uses strong muscles to keep its two valves tightly shut.”

“The fossil record provides clear evidence of how the hinge mechanism between the two valves evolved over millions of years.”

C2 · Proficiency Technology Formal

v. to control the flow of something using a valve.

v. to regulate or control the passage of a fluid or gas through the use of valves.

“The system is designed to valve the gas automatically if the pressure drops.”

“The technician had to manually valve the intake to prevent the chemical solution from overflowing the primary tank.”