stopcock: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (Specialist/Technical)Technical, Plumbing, Engineering, occasionally formal/legal (in property contexts)
Quick answer
What does “stopcock” mean?
A valve for controlling or isolating the flow of a liquid or gas in a pipe.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A valve for controlling or isolating the flow of a liquid or gas in a pipe.
A key control point in a fluid system; can metaphorically refer to a point of decisive control or restriction in other systems.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, 'stopcock' is the standard, well-understood term for the main water shut-off valve in a property. In American English, the term is recognized but is less common and more technical; 'shut-off valve', 'main valve', or 'gate valve' are more typical in everyday usage.
Connotations
In British contexts, it carries connotations of household maintenance, emergency control (e.g., 'turning off the stopcock' for a burst pipe), and property ownership. In American contexts, it may sound slightly dated or specifically British/technical.
Frequency
High frequency in UK domestic and plumbing contexts; low frequency in general US English.
Grammar
How to Use “stopcock” in a Sentence
turn off/on [the stopcock]locate/find [the stopcock]The stopcock controls/isolates [the water supply]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “stopcock” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- Before you fix the leak, you must turn the stopcock to the off position.
- The outside stopcock is usually located under a small metal cover near the property boundary.
American English
- The lab technician carefully adjusted the glass stopcock on the burette.
- While 'stopcock' is understood, most homeowners would refer to it as the main water shut-off valve.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in property management or facilities: 'The lease requires the tenant to know the location of the main stopcock.'
Academic
Technical engineering or fluid dynamics texts: 'The system's pressure was regulated by a series of calibrated stopcocks.'
Everyday
British: 'The plumber asked if I knew where the stopcock was.' American: 'You need to find the main shut-off valve.'
Technical
Standard in plumbing, laboratory equipment (for gas/fluid lines), and industrial pipework specifications.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “stopcock”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “stopcock”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “stopcock”
- Using 'tap' or 'faucet' interchangeably (a tap is for drawing fluid; a stopcock is for isolating supply).
- Pronouncing it as /stɒpˈkɒk/ (stress is on first syllable).
- Assuming it is common term in all English varieties.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A tap (or faucet) is used to draw water for use. A stopcock is a valve used to completely isolate the water supply to a section of pipe or an entire property.
American houses have equivalent valves, but they are less commonly called 'stopcocks'. Terms like 'main shut-off valve', 'water meter valve', or 'gate valve' are more frequent.
Typically under the kitchen sink, in a downstairs bathroom, in a utility cupboard, or in a front/back hallway. There is also an 'outside stopcock' often near the property boundary.
Yes, it can refer to similar valves in gas lines or in scientific/ laboratory glassware (e.g., on a burette or distillation apparatus) for controlling liquid or gas flow.
A valve for controlling or isolating the flow of a liquid or gas in a pipe.
Stopcock is usually technical, plumbing, engineering, occasionally formal/legal (in property contexts) in register.
Stopcock: in British English it is pronounced /ˈstɒp.kɒk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈstɑːp.kɑːk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The stopcock of democracy (metaphorical, rare)”
- “Turn off the money stopcock (metaphorical)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a rooster (cock) standing on a pipe, stopping the flow with its foot. STOP + COCK = the valve that stops the flow.
Conceptual Metaphor
A STOPCOCK IS A GATEKEEPER FOR FLUIDS (controls access/flow).
Practice
Quiz
In which variety of English is the word 'stopcock' most commonly used for a domestic water isolation valve?