air lock

noun

Definition of air lock

1 : an intermediate chamber with two airtight doors or openings to permit passage between two dissimilar spaces (such as two places of unequal atmospheric pressure)

2 : a stoppage of flow caused by air being in a part where liquid ought to circulate

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Recent Examples of air lock from the Web

In practice, a warming Arctic strains the jet stream’s ability to keep all that cold polar air locked away in the north.

— avery thompson, Popular Mechanics, "Why the Eastern U.S. Is So Cold Right Now," 29 Dec. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'air lock.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of air lock

1840

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

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AIR LOCK Defined for English Language Learners

air lock

noun

Definition of air lock for English Language Learners

: a small room that has two doors which can be sealed tightly so that no air enters or leaves and that is used for moving between two spaces with different air pressures in a submarine, spaceship, etc.