[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

valve \valve\, n. l. valva the leaf, fold, or valve of a door:
   cf. f. valve.
   1913 webster
   1. a door; especially, one of a pair of folding doors, or one
      of the leaves of such a door.
      1913 webster

            swift through the valves the visionary fair
            repassed.                             --pope.
      1913 webster

            heavily closed, . . . the valves of the barn doors.
                                                  --longfellow.
      1913 webster

   2. a lid, plug, or cover, applied to an aperture so that by
      its movement, as by swinging, lifting and falling,
      sliding, turning, or the like, it will open or close the
      aperture to permit or prevent passage, as of a fluid.
      1913 webster

   note: a valve may act automatically so as to be opened by the
         effort of a fluid to pass in one direction, and closed
         by the effort to pass in the other direction, as a
         clack valve; or it may be opened or closed by hand or
         by mechanism, as a screw valve, or a slide valve.
         1913 webster

   3. anat. one or more membranous partitions, flaps, or
      folds, which permit the passage of the contents of a
      vessel or cavity in one direction, but stop or retard the
      flow in the opposite direction; as, the ileocolic, mitral,
      and semilunar valves.
      1913 webster

   4. bot.
      a one of the pieces into which a capsule naturally
          separates when it bursts.
      b one of the two similar portions of the shell of a
          diatom.
      c a small portion of certain anthers, which opens like a
          trapdoor to allow the pollen to escape, as in the
          barberry.
          1913 webster

   5. zool. one of the pieces or divisions of bivalve or
      multivalve shells.
      1913 webster

   air valve, ball valve, check valve, etc. see under
      air. ball, check, etc.

   double-beat valve, a kind of balance valve usually
      consisting of a movable, open-ended, turban-shaped shell
      provided with two faces of nearly equal diameters, one
      above another, which rest upon two corresponding seats
      when the valve is closed.

   equilibrium valve.
      a a balance valve. see under balance.
      b a valve for permitting air, steam, water, etc., to
          pass into or out of a chamber so as to establish or
          maintain equal pressure within and without.

   valve chest mach., a chamber in which a valve works;
      especially steam engine, the steam chest; -- called in
      england valve box, and valve casing. see steam
      chest, under steam.

   valve face mach., that part of the surface of a valve
      which comes in contact with the valve seat.

   valve gear, or valve motion steam engine, the system of
      parts by which motion is given to the valve or valves for
      the distribution of steam in the cylinder. for an
      illustration of one form of valve gear, see link motion.
      

   valve seat. mach.
      a the fixed surface on which a valve rests or against
          which it presses.
      b a part or piece on which such a surface is formed.

   valve stem mach., a rod attached to a valve, for moving
      it.

   valve yoke mach., a strap embracing a slide valve and
      connecting it to the valve stem.
      1913 webster
see also:
air valve ball valve check valve air ball check 
double-beat valve equilibrium valve balance valve chest valve box 
valve casing steam chest steam valve face valve seat 
valve gear valve motion link motion valve seat valve stem 
valve yoke 

[2] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

check \check\ che^k, n. oe. chek, of. eschec, f. 'echec,
   a stop, hindrance, orig. check in the game of chess, pl.
   'echecs chess, through ar., fr. pers. sh=ah king. see
   shah, and cf. checkmate, chess, checker.
   1. chess a word of warning denoting that the king is in
      danger; such a menace of a player's king by an adversary's
      move as would, if it were any other piece, expose it to
      immediate capture. a king so menaced is said to be in
      check, and must be made safe at the next move.
      1913 webster

   2. a condition of interrupted or impeded progress; arrest;
      stop; delay; as, to hold an enemy in check.
      1913 webster

            which gave a remarkable check to the first progress
            of christianity.                      --addison.
      1913 webster

            no check, no stay, this streamlet fears.
                                                  --wordsworth.
      1913 webster

   3. whatever arrests progress, or limits action; an obstacle,
      guard, restraint, or rebuff.
      1913 webster

            useful check upon the administration of government.
                                                  --washington.
      1913 webster

            a man whom no check could abash.      --macaulay.
      1913 webster

   4. a mark, certificate, or token, by which, errors may be
      prevented, or a thing or person may be identified; as,
      checks placed against items in an account; a check given
      for baggage; a return check on a railroad.
      1913 webster

   5. a written order directing a bank or banker to pay money as
      therein stated. see bank check, below.
      1913 webster

   6. a woven or painted design in squares resembling the patten
      of a checkerboard; one of the squares of such a design;
      also, cloth having such a figure.
      1913 webster

   7. falconry the forsaking by a hawk of its proper game to
      follow other birds.
      1913 webster

   8. small chick or crack.
      1913 webster

   bank check, a written order on a banker or broker to pay
      money in his keeping belonging to the signer.

   check book, a book containing blank forms for checks upon a
      bank.

   check hook, a hook on the saddle of a harness, over which a
      checkrein is looped.

   check list, a list or catalogue by which things may be
      verified, or on which they may be checked.

   check nut mech., a secondary nut, screwing down upon the
      primary nut to secure it. --knight.

   check valve mech., a valve in the feed pipe of a boiler,
      or other conduit, to prevent the return of the feed water
      or other fluid.

   to take check, to take offense. obs. --dryden.

   syn: hindrance; setback; interruption; obstruction;
        reprimand; censure; rebuke; reproof; repulse; rebuff;
        tally; counterfoil; counterbalance; ticket; draft.
        1913 webster
see also:
shah checkmate chess checker bank check check book 
check hook check list check nut check valve to take check 

Check >> C Words
Check, definition of term: Check
check_pag1.html

Check List >> C Words
Check List, definition of term: Check List
check+list_pag1.html

Check Mark >> C Words
Check Mark, definition of term: Check Mark
check+mark_pag1.html

Check Off >> C Words
Check Off, definition of term: Check Off
check+off_pag1.html

Check Out >> C Words
Check Out, definition of term: Check Out
check+out_pag1.html

Check In >> C Words
Check In, definition of term: Check In
check+in_pag1.html

Check For >> C Words
Check For, definition of term: Check For
check+for_pag1.html

Bicuspid Valve >> B Words
Bicuspid Valve, definition of term: Bicuspid Valve
bicuspid+valve_pag1.html

Cashiers Check >> C Words
Cashiers Check, definition of term: Cashiers Check
cashiers+check_pag1.html

Certified Check >> C Words
Certified Check, definition of term: Certified Check
certified+check_pag1.html

Page 1 2 Next