flange

Everyday

1. A flange is a flat rim or edge that sticks out around a pipe, wheel or metal part, used to make it stronger, hold it in place or join it to something else. tree →
2. On a train wheel, the flange is the raised inside edge that keeps the wheel on the rail. tree →

In the lessons

A technical word used in engineering, plumbing and design and technology. Pipes are joined by bolting their flanges together; train wheels stay on the track because of their flanges. Phrases: «pipe flange», «wheel flange».

Examples

• The plumber bolted the two pipe flanges together. tree →
• The flange on a train wheel stops it slipping off the rails. tree →
• The shelf bracket has a flange for the screws. tree →
• Check that the flange is flat before tightening. tree →
• A tin can's rim is a kind of flange. tree →
• The engineer measured the flange carefully. tree →
• Baloo looked up to see where the voice came from, and there was Rann the Kite, sweeping down with the sun shining on the upturned flanges of his wings. tree →

Note

Countable. Say «flanj». Technical word.