Valve vs. Vane — What's the Difference?

A valve is a device or natural object that regulates, directs or controls the flow of a fluid (gases, liquids, fluidized solids, or slurries) by opening, closing, or partially obstructing various passageways. Valves are technically fittings, but are usually discussed as a separate category.

A weathervane.

A device for controlling the passage of fluid or air through a pipe, duct, etc., especially an automatic device allowing movement in one direction only

Any of several usually relatively thin, rigid, flat, or sometimes curved surfaces radially mounted along an axis, as a blade in a turbine or a sail on a windmill, that is moved by or used to move a fluid.

Each of the halves of the hinged shell of a bivalve mollusc or brachiopod, or of the parts of the compound shell of a barnacle.

The flattened, weblike part of a feather, consisting of a series of barbs on either side of the shaft.

Any of various devices that regulate the flow of gases, liquids, or loose materials through piping or through apertures by opening, closing, or obstructing ports or passageways.

The movable target on a leveling rod.

The movable control element of such a device.

A sight on a quadrant or compass.

A device in a brass wind instrument that can be opened or closed to change the pitch by altering the length of the air column in the tube.

One of the metal guidance or stabilizing fins attached to the tail of a bomb or other missile.

(Anatomy) A membranous structure in a hollow organ or passage, as in an artery or vein, that folds or closes to prevent the return flow of the body fluid passing through it.

A weather vane.

A piece of shell covering or enclosing certain mollusks or other invertebrates, especially the single one of a univalve mollusk or one of the paired hinged ones of a bivalve mollusk or brachiopod.

Any of several usually relatively thin, rigid, flat, or sometimes curved surfaces radially mounted along an axis, as a blade in a turbine or a sail on a windmill, that is turned by or used to turn a fluid.

One of the two siliceous halves of the cell wall of a diatom.

(ornithology) The flattened, web-like part of a feather, consisting of a series of barbs on either side of the shaft.

One of the pieces into which a plant part splits at maturity, especially a segment of a fruit capsule or of certain anthers.

(navigation) A sight on a sextant or compass.

Chiefly British An electron tube or a vacuum tube.

(weaponry) One of the metal guidance or stabilizing fins attached to the tail of a bomb or other missile.

(Archaic) Either half of a double or folding door.

A contrivance attached to some elevated object for the purpose of showing which way the wind blows; a weathercock. It is usually a plate or strip of metal, or slip of wood, often cut into some fanciful form, and placed upon a perpendicular axis around which it moves freely.

To provide with a valve.

Any flat, extended surface attached to an axis and moved by the wind; as, the vane of a windmill; hence, a similar fixture of any form moved in or by water, air, or other fluid; as, the vane of a screw propeller, a fan blower, an anemometer, etc.

To control by means of a valve.

The rhachis and web of a feather taken together.

A device that controls the flow of a gas or fluid through a pipe.

One of the sights of a compass, quadrant, etc.

A device that admits fuel and air into the cylinder of an internal combustion engine, or one that allows combustion gases to exit.

Flat surface that rotates and pushes against air or water

(anatomy) One or more membranous partitions, flaps, or folds, which permit the passage of the contents of a vessel or cavity in one direction, but stop or control the flow in the opposite direction

Mechanical device attached to an elevated structure; rotates freely to show the direction of the wind

One of the leaves of a folding-door, or a window-sash.

A metal fin attached to the tail of a bomb or missile in order to stabilize or guide it

(British) A vacuum tube.

The flattened weblike part of a feather consisting of a series of barbs on either side of the shaft

(botany) One of the pieces into which certain fruits naturally separate when they dehisce.

(botany) A small portion of certain anthers, which opens like a trapdoor to allow the pollen to escape, such as in the barberry.

(biology) One of the pieces or divisions of bivalve or multivalve shells.

(biology) One of the two similar portions of the shell of a diatom.

(transitive) To control (flow) by means of a valve.

A door; especially, one of a pair of folding doors, or one of the leaves of such a door.

A lid, plug, or cover, applied to an aperture so that by its movement, as by swinging, lifting and falling, sliding, turning, or the like, it will open or close the aperture to permit or prevent passage, as of a fluid.

One or more membranous partitions, flaps, or folds, which permit the passage of the contents of a vessel or cavity in one direction, but stop or retard the flow in the opposite direction; as, the ileocolic, mitral, and semilunar valves.

One of the pieces into which a capsule naturally separates when it bursts.

One of the pieces or divisions of bivalve or multivalve shells.

A structure in a hollow organ (like the heart) with a flap to insure one-way flow of fluid through it

Device in a brass wind instrument for varying the length of the air column to alter the pitch of a tone

Control consisting of a mechanical device for controlling the flow of a fluid