vapor lock

noun

Definition of vapor lock

: partial or complete interruption of flow of a fluid (such as fuel in an internal combustion engine) caused by the formation of bubbles of vapor in the feeding system

Examples of vapor lock in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web During the nine-day flight, Voyager encountered oil problems, a faulty fuel gauge and finally, yesterday morning, a vapor lock that conked out the rear engine for five minutes. — San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Dec. 2021

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