safety valve
/ˈseɪfti ˌvælv/
Word Rarity
Uncommon
Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.07 in modern English
23
Scrabble Score
11
Letters
2
Syllables
8
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A valve set to open at a pressure below that at which a container holding a gas, vapour, etc. (such as a boiler or pressure cooker), would burst, thus reducing the pressure; a relief valve.
noun
A valve set to close a container holding a gas or vapour to prevent excessive loss of pressure.
verb
Example Sentences
- "Spun glass mattresses are used for lagging the boiler, which has three Ross pop safety valves on the front ring."
- "[A]nd to show that there was no shortage of steam, Royal Scot, directly we stopped, blew off vigorously from its safety-valves steam that well might have been used in the cylinders in the interest of timekeeping."
- "[…] I have often thought that it was a great error in our legislature when they consented to put down the public lotteries in England. I am convinced that they were beneficial, acting as safety-valves to the gambling spirit of the nation, and that their prohibition has been productive of much crime and misery."
- "Hernández additionally requested that he be given a two-level safety-valve reduction pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 5C1.2, which mitigates the harsh effect of mandatory minimum sentences on certain first-time offenders who played only supporting roles in drug-trafficking schemes and who provided testimony about their involvement in the criminal activity."
Etymology
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈseɪfti ˌvælv/
- British English: /ˈseɪftɪ ˌvælv/
Usage
- American usage