safety valve
A valve set to open at a pressure below that at which a container holding a gas,…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.
Meaning
4 sensesA 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.
Sicherheitsventil
предохрани́тельный кла́панpredoxranítelʹnyj klápan
запобі́жний кла́панzapobížnyj klápan
a valve in a container in which pressure can build up (as a steam boiler); it opens automatically when the pressure reaches a dangerous level
(broadly)A valve set to close a container holding a gas or vapour to prevent excessive loss of pressure.
(figuratively)Any mechanism offering relief from physical or emotional pressure or tension.
Any mechanism offering relief from physical or emotional pressure or tension.
(US, figuratively)A United States law, codified at 18 United States Code §3553(f), authorizing a judge to disregard mandatory minimum sentences for some criminals with few or no prior offenses.
Translations
9 languagesBy meaning 1
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Origin
From safety + valve.From safety + valve.
Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Forms
plural: safety valvesSynonyms
6 synonyms- a valve in a container in which pressure can build up (as a steam boiler); it opens automatically when the pressure reaches a dangerous level:relief valveescape valveescape cockescape
Word family
1 related wordsSee also
neighbours in the dictionaryDictionary text adapted from Wiktionary (Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0) and Open English WordNet / Princeton WordNet (CC BY 4.0, WordNet License); shared under CC BY-SA 4.0. Example sentences and recordings are credited where they appear.