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Glite Dictionary
valve rocker

valve rocker

7.6
A lever in an engine that moves the valve to open and close
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : balancín de válvula
  • The valve rocker transfers motion from the camshaft to the engine's valves.

Examples

  • Modern cars use improved valve rocker designs for greater fuel efficiency.

  • A broken valve rocker can cause serious engine problems if not replaced promptly.

  • The valve rocker controls the flow of air in the engine.

  • Many valve rockers are made from durable materials.

  • A broken valve rocker can cause serious engine problems if not replaced promptly.

  • Modern cars use improved valve rocker designs for greater fuel efficiency.

  • The valve rocker transfers motion from the camshaft to the engine's valves.

Synonyms

rocker arm
vsvalve rocker
  • Specialized
6.9

A lever that moves on a center point to open or close an engine valve

pushes valves down, stressing the downward movement rather than opening and closing

Surface Forms

valve rocker singular
valve rockers plural

Morphology

valve + rocker

The meaning is directly compositional: 'valve' (a flow-control device) combined with 'rocker' (a thing that rocks/a rocking arm) yields a part that rocks or pivots to operate a valve. This type of compound naming for machine parts follows regular English formation (‑er agent/instrument) and is likely inferable by a B1 learner who knows the constituents.

Etymology

Valve rocker comes from how the part works: the rocker rocks like a seesaw on a point and pushes the valve down to open or close it. So the name links the moving 'rocker' with the engine 'valve'.