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quilibrium valve. (a) A balance valve. See under Balance. (b) A valve for permitting air, steam, water, etc., to pass into or out of a chamber so as to establish or maintain equal pressure within and without. -- Valve chest (Mach.), a chamber in which a valve works; especially (Steam Engine), the steam chest; -- calle…

Vapor engine, an engine worked by the expansive force of a vapor, esp. a vapor other than steam.

Existing in a vaporous form or state; as, steam is a vaporiform substance.

into vapor; the artificial formation of vapor; specifically, the conversion of water into steam, as in a steam boiler.

r, as by the application of heat, whether naturally or artificially. Vaporizing surface. (Steam Boilers) See Evaporating surface, under Evaporate, v. t.

ewise variable. Shak. His heart, I know, how variable and vain! Milton. Variable exhaust (Steam Eng.), a blast pipe with an adjustable opening. -- Variable quantity (Math.), a variable. -- Variable stars (Astron.), fixed stars which vary in their brightness, usually in more or less uniform periods.

A mountain or hill, usually more or less conical in form, from which lava, cinders, steam, sulphur gases, and the like, are ejected; -- often popularly called a burning mountain.

An inclosing part of a receptacle or vessel; as, the walls of a steam-engine cylinder.

The backward current or disturbed water caused by the action of oars, or of a steamer's screw or paddles, etc.

Capable of being washed off; not permanent or durable; -- said of colors not fixed by steaming or otherwise.

a pipe for carrying off waste, or superfluous, water or other fluids. Specifically: (a) (Steam Boilers) An escape pipe. See under Escape. (b) (Plumbing) The outlet pipe at the bottom of a bowl, tub, sink, or the like. -- Waste steam. (a) Steam which escapes the air. (b) Exhaust steam. -- Waste trap, a trap for a was…

or quantity of water, or for indicating the height of its surface, as in the boiler of a steam engine. See Gauge.

A mill whose machinery is moved by water; -- distinguished from a windmill, and a steam mill.

The paddle wheel of a steam vessel.

In steam boilers and sheet-iron work, a strip riveted upon the edges of plates that form a butt joint.

A form of vessel, often with steam power, having sharp ends and a very convex upper deck, much used on the Great Lakes, esp. for carrying grain.

f bournonite so named from the shape of its twin crystals. See Bournonite. -- Wheel pit (Steam Engine), a pit in the ground, in which the lower part of the fly wheel runs. -- Wheel plow, or Wheel plough, a plow having one or two wheels attached, to render it more steady, and to regulate the depth of the furrow. -- W…

A steam vessel propelled by a paddle wheel or by paddle wheels; -- used chiefly in the terms side-wheeler and stern-wheeler.

A large capstan or vertical drum turned by horse power or steam power, for raising ore or water, etc., from mines, or for other purposes; -- called also whim gin, and whimsey. Whim gin (Mining), a whim. See Whim, 2. -- Whim shaft (Mining), a shaft through which ore, water, etc., is raised from a mine by means of a whi…

To make a shrill sound with a wind or steam instrument, somewhat like that made with the lips; to blow a sharp, shrill tone.