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Glite Dictionary
ball valve

ball valve

1 4.1
A device that controls the flow of water or gas using a round ball inside
  • noun
  • /bɔl vælv/
  • Specialized
translation icon : válvula de bola
  • The technician recommended using a durable ball valve for better control of the gas flow in the line.
  • actuated ball valve
  • ball valves are designed
  • Three-way ball valve

So all I did is I just went and turned that ball valve and that made water come out of all the the spigots.

Examples

  • A pilot-operated ball valve was then developed and later modified to a poppet design, as shown in Figure 3.

    Academic text (1995)

  • The hydraulic circuit contains four ball valves.

    Academic text (1995)

  • So all I did is I just went and turned that ball valve and that made water come out of all the the spigots.

    Garden Answer

  • They added a ball valve down here to make it easier to drain.

  • Three-way ball valves have been added to the True Blue line.

    Academic text (1996)

  • The Cross Point ball valve's design permits multiple flow patterns because of the crossed flow corridors within the ball.

    Academic text (2000)

  • The Mechanical Water Spic Valve is a ball valve control system for controlling water flow and stoppage.

    Academic text (1998)

  • The force main's transient pressures are controlled by slow-operating air/oil type ball valves.

    Academic text (2000)

  • The FIP Valve Solutions catalog showcases both two-way and three-way ball valves along with a complete offering of strainers.

    Academic text (1998)

  • To control the water supply to the sprinkler system, I installed a ball valve on the main pipe.

Synonyms

valve
vsball valve
  • Specialized
153 4.1

A device that controls the flow of liquid or air in machines and instruments

uses a movable sphere to seal against a seat and stop or allow flow

How Precise

slide valve
  • Specialized
7.7
stopcock
  • Specialized
1 7.7
ball valve
  • Specialized
1 4.1
valve
  • Specialized
153 4.1

Surface Forms

ball valve singular
ball valves plural

Morphology

ball + valve

The meaning (a valve that uses a movable ball to control flow) is directly compositional from 'ball' + 'valve'—the first noun specifies the type/working part of the valve. This kind of noun-noun compound is literal and cross-linguistically common in technical vocabulary, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would reliably infer the meaning.

Etymology

Ball valve comes from a simple image: a round ball inside the valve that turns to block or let water or gas. When you turn the handle, the ball moves to 'stop' the 'flow' or to let it through, so the name shows how it controls flow.