valve

Main Entry:: valve
Pronunciation:: \ˈvalv\
Function:: noun
Etymology:: Latin valva; akin to Latin volvere to roll — more at voluble
Date:: 14th century

1archaic : a leaf of a folding or double door2 [New Latin valva, from Latin] : a bodily structure (as the mitral valve) that closes temporarily a passage or orifice or permits movement of fluid in one direction only3 a: any of numerous mechanical devices by which the flow of liquid, gas, or loose material in bulk may be started, stopped, or regulated by a movable part that opens, shuts, or partially obstructs one or more ports or passageways ; also : the movable part of such a device b: a device in a brass instrument for quickly channeling air flow through an added length of tube in order to change the fundamental tone by some definite interval cchiefly British : electron tube4 [New Latin valva, from Latin] : one of the distinct usually hinged and movable pieces of which the shell of some shell-bearing animals (as lamellibranch mollusks, brachiopods, and barnacles) consists5 [New Latin valva, from Latin] a: one of the segments or pieces into which a dehiscing capsule or legume separates b: the portion of various anthers (as of the barberry) resembling a lid c: one of the two encasing membranes of a diatom

— valved

\ˈvalvd\ adjective

— valve·less

\ˈvalv-ləs\ adjective

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