valve
gb/vˈælv/ us/vˈælv/
B2
English
~ 5700
szelep, billentyű, elektroncső, kopács, teknő, szeleppel szabályoz, szeleppel ellát, szeleppel elzár
NOUN
B2
1
szelep
B2
Usage pattern:
a valve on [pipe/container/machine]
The technician closed the valve to stop the flow of gas.
A technikus elzárta a szelepet, hogy megállítsa a gáz áramlását.
Make sure the main water valve is shut before you start working on the pipes.
Győződj meg róla, hogy a főelzáró szelep el van zárva, mielőtt dolgozni kezdesz a csöveken.
A small leak in the fuel valve caused the engine to shut down.
Turn the valve slowly so the pressure in the pipe doesn’t change too quickly.
The radiator isn’t heating up because the valve is stuck open.
Learner examples
He turned the valve to stop the water.
Elfordította a szelepet, hogy elzárja a vizet.
There is a red valve on the gas pipe.
Van egy piros szelep a gázcsövön.
Please close the valve before you leave.
This machine has a safety valve on top.
The worker checks each valve every day.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use only 'tap' or 'faucet' when they mean any kind of valve. Use 'tap' or 'faucet' mainly for water in sinks or bathtubs, and 'valve' for most technical or machine parts that control liquids or gases.
Meaning
mechanical device controlling flow
Collocations
open the valve
|close the valve
|shut off the valve
|control valve
|safety valve
|valve on the pipe
Synonyms
tap (Common in British English for a valve that controls water flow, especially in sinks; more specific than general 'valve'.)
|
faucet (North American English for a water valve at a sink; used mainly for household water valves.)
Antonyms
plug (A plug blocks a hole completely instead of allowing controlled flow like a valve.)
Themes
technology
|engineering
|daily life
|science
Definition
A part on a pipe, machine, or container that you can open or close to control how a liquid or gas moves through it.
A mechanical device that can open, close, or partly block a passage in order to control the flow of a liquid or gas.
NOUN
B2
TECHNICAL
2
billentyű
C1
Usage pattern:
a valve in [organ/body part]
The surgeon replaced a damaged valve in her heart.
A sebész kicserélte a nő sérült szívbillentyűjét.
Blood flows through the veins in one direction because of tiny valves inside them.
A vér a vénákban egy irányba áramlik, mert apró billentyűk vannak bennük.
A leaky heart valve can cause shortness of breath and fatigue.
The doctor used an ultrasound scan to check that the heart valves were working properly.
Narrowing of the aortic valve reduces the amount of blood leaving the heart.
Learner examples
He has a problem with a valve in his heart.
Gond van az egyik szívbillentyűjével.
Small valves in the veins stop blood going backwards.
A vénákban lévő apró billentyűk megakadályozzák, hogy a vér visszafelé folyjon.
The doctor said her heart valve does not close well.
They did surgery to fix the damaged valve.
A healthy valve opens and closes at the right time.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think 'valve' in the body is completely different from a mechanical valve. In fact, both control flow; one is made of tissue and the other is made of metal or plastic.
Meaning
flap in body controlling flow
Collocations
heart valve
|valve replacement
|leaky valve
|damaged valve
|valve disease
|valve surgery
Synonyms
sphincter (A ring of muscle that controls an opening in the body; similar function but different structure and used for passages like the anus or stomach opening, not heart valves.)
Antonyms
opening (An uncontrolled opening lets fluid pass freely, while a valve actively opens and closes to direct flow.)
Themes
medicine
|biology
|anatomy
|body
|health
Definition
A soft part inside the body, like in the heart or veins, that opens and closes to control how blood or other fluids move.
A fold or flap of tissue in the body that opens and closes to control the direction of blood or other bodily fluids.
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
3
elektroncső
C1
These old valve radios have a warm, rich sound.
Ezeknek a régi csöves rádióknak meleg, telt hangjuk van.
He collects vintage amplifiers that still use valves instead of transistors.
Régi erősítőket gyűjt, amelyek még tranzisztorok helyett elektroncsöveket használnak.
One of the amplifier’s valves blew during the concert.
Valve technology has mostly been replaced by solid-state components in modern electronics.
The glow from the valves inside the old hi‑fi unit is very distinctive.
Learner examples
This old radio works with valves.
Ez a régi rádió elektroncsövekkel működik.
He changed a broken valve in the guitar amp.
Kicserélt egy hibás elektroncsövet a gitárerősítőben.
Modern TVs do not use valves now.
Some people like the sound of valve amplifiers.
The glass valve became very hot when the radio was on.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this electronic sense with the more common mechanical sense. In electronics, especially in British English, 'valve' usually means a vacuum tube, not a water or gas control device.
Meaning
vacuum tube electronic component
Collocations
radio valve
|valve amplifier
|replace the valve
|valve circuitry
|valve technology
|valve radio
Synonyms
vacuum tube (Standard American English term for this electronic component.)
|
tube (Short, informal American term, especially among audio and electronics enthusiasts.)
Antonyms
transistor (A solid-state electronic component that largely replaced valves/vacuum tubes in modern devices.)
Themes
technology
|electronics
|science
Definition
A glass tube part used in old radios and amplifiers to control electric signals, especially in British English.
In electronics, especially British English, a device in which an electric current passes through a vacuum or gas-filled tube, used to amplify or control signals, mainly in older or specialized equipment.
NOUN
C2
TECHNICAL
4
As the fruit ripens, the seed pod splits into three valves.
Ahogy a termés érik, a magtok három kopácsra hasad.
The outer valves of the shell protect the soft body inside.
A héj külső teknői védik a belül lévő puha testet.
Each valve of the capsule curls back as it dries and opens.
The botanist counted the number of valves on each seed case.
In this species the seed vessel has two valves of equal size.
Learner examples
The dry pod opened into two valves.
A száraz toktermés két kopácsra nyílt fel.
Each valve of the shell fell away.
A héj mindegyik teknője levált.
The seed case has three valves.
The valves protect the seeds inside.
When it is dry, the valves break apart.
Common mistake:
This sense is rare and very specialized. Learners sometimes think it is the same as the mechanical or heart sense because of the shared word, but here it simply means one piece of a pod or shell.
Meaning
segment of pod or shell
Collocations
valves of the seed pod
|shell valve
|the pod splits into valves
|two-valved shell
|outer valve
|inner valve
Synonyms
segment (A general term for a part of something that is divided into pieces; less technical than 'valve' in this sense.)
Antonyms
whole (Refers to the entire pod or shell before it divides into separate valves.)
Themes
biology
|botany
|nature
Definition
A single piece of a seed pod or shell when it splits into parts.
In botany and zoology, one of the distinct parts into which the outer covering of a seed vessel, shell, or similar structure is divided when it opens.
VERB
C2
TECHNICAL
5
Usage pattern:
to valve [system/line] for [function]
The system is valved so that each tank can be isolated for maintenance.
A rendszer úgy van szelepekkel ellátva, hogy karbantartáskor mindegyik tartály külön leválasztható legyen.
Make sure the return line is correctly valved before starting the pump.
Győződj meg róla, hogy a visszatérő vezeték szelepei megfelelő állásban vannak, mielőtt elindítod a szivattyút.
They valved off the damaged section of pipe to prevent further leakage.
Each cylinder is individually valved to control the pressure.
Improperly valved equipment can create dangerous pressure buildups.
Learner examples
They valved off the broken pipe.
Szeleppel elzárták a törött csövet.
This line is valved so the tank can be empty.
Ez a vezeték szeleppel van ellátva, hogy a tartályt ki lehessen üríteni.
The engineer will valve the system before the test.
Each gas bottle is valved to control the flow.
The machine is carefully valved for safety.
Common mistake:
This verb is rare and mainly used in technical writing. Learners often try to use it in everyday situations where 'turn the valve' or 'control the flow' would be more natural.
Meaning
control flow using a valve
Collocations
valve the line
|valve off the section
|properly valved system
|valved to allow flow
|valve the cylinder
|valved for safety
Synonyms
regulate (Means to control or adjust, often more general; 'valve' implies doing so specifically by using a valve.)
|
throttle (In engineering, to reduce or control flow; more strongly suggests reducing flow than neutral 'valve'.)
Antonyms
bypass (To route flow around a valve or control point, avoiding the controlled path.)
Themes
technology
|engineering
|science
Definition
To use a valve to control how a liquid or gas moves.
To control or direct the flow of a liquid or gas in a system by means of one or more valves.
Grammar
Dictionary form
valve
IPA
GB/vˈælv/
US/vˈælv/
Syllables & stress
valve (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (valve)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: valve
- Plural: valves
Word family
Forms
valves
noun
Negative and opposite forms
valveless
adjective
Advanced or less common
valvular
adjective
Expressions
pressure relief valve
1/pɹˈɛʃɚ ɹɪlˈif vˈælv/
fixed phrase
technical
automatic valve for relieving pressure
A safety part on a tank or system that opens by itself to reduce pressure when it becomes too high.
Examples
- The pressure relief valve prevented the tank from bursting.
- Engineers must size the pressure relief valve correctly for the system.
- A faulty pressure relief valve can lead to dangerous working conditions.
release valve
1/ɹilˈis vˈælv/
fixed phrase
valve for letting out pressure
A valve that you open to let out extra pressure, liquid, or gas from something.
Examples
- Open the release valve slowly to let the air escape.
- The technician checked the release valve on the pressure tank.
- Pulling this lever activates the release valve.
safety valve
1/sˈeɪfti vˈælv/
fixed phrase
valve that releases excess pressure
A special valve that opens by itself when pressure is too high, to stop a machine or container from breaking.
Examples
- The boiler’s safety valve released steam when the pressure rose too high.
- Make sure the safety valve is working before you turn on the compressor.
- A blocked safety valve can cause a serious accident.