[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/stopcock/)

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# stopcock

noun (a stopcock, stopcocks)

«stopcock» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

A stopcock is a tap or valve on a water pipe that you turn to stop or start the flow of water into a house or to part of the plumbing. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/stopcock/#m1)

### In the lessons

In home safety lessons, children learn where the stopcock is: if a pipe bursts or a tap will not turn off, an adult turns the stopcock to stop the water and prevent a flood. In the UK and Ireland it is often under the kitchen sink. In science it shows how a valve controls the flow of a liquid. Phrases: «turn off the stopcock», «the main stopcock». In the USA people more often say «shut-off valve».

### Examples

- Dad turned off the stopcock when the pipe burst. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/stopcock/#x1)
- The stopcock is under the kitchen sink. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/stopcock/#x2)
- Do you know where your stopcock is? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/stopcock/#x3)
- The plumber turned the stopcock before fixing the tap. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/stopcock/#x4)
- Turn the stopcock clockwise to close it. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/stopcock/#x5)
- Water poured out until Mum found the stopcock. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/stopcock/#x6)
- Ask an adult to show you the stopcock in your home. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/stopcock/#x7)

### Note

Plural: stopcocks. Mostly British/Irish/Australian English; American: «main water shut-off valve». Usually «turn clockwise to close». It is not a «tap» you drink from.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «stopcock» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/stopcock/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«stopcock» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/stopcock.html) on Mova free.