/
a HackerNoon project
Original · left

Valve (device)

A device that regulates or directs the flow of a fluid by opening, closing or partly blocking a passage.

First in use: ancient / pre-modern
Duplicate · right

Valve (game company)

The American video game developer and publisher that runs the Steam store and made Half-Life and Portal.

First in use: c. 1996

Valve / Valve (device) / Valve (game company)

Loading data…
Canonical todayMeasuring…
Status—
Duplicate share · 12 mo—
Last crossover—
Colour keyGrey · original meaningGreen · duplicate meaningAmber · contested (40–60%)How colours work

The company behind Steam, Half-Life and Portal.

Which meaning of Valve is the original, and which one is the duplicate riding on its name? Valve (device) came first (ancient / pre-modern). Valve (game company) arrived in 1996. The data below shows which one owns the word now.

Wikipedia pageviews since 2015

Valve (device)Valve (game company)
English Wikipedia pageviews since July 2015 load here.

Duplicate's share of attention

Green line = duplicate's % · above 60 it owns the word · below 40 the original does

Share-of-attention line loads here.

The case for each meaning

Sourced definitions, usage stats and quotes

Original · ancient / pre-modern

Valve (device)

Loading the Wikipedia definition…

12-mo pageviews—
Year over year—
Peak month—
Duplicate · c. 1996

Valve (game company)

Loading the Wikipedia definition…

12-mo pageviews—
Year over year—
Peak month—

More duplicated terms

Gaming

Lag · Lag (video games)Respawn · Respawn (gaming)Boss · Boss (video games)Speedrun · SpeedrunEpic · Epic GamesQuake · Quake (video game)Fallout · Fallout (game series)Destiny · Destiny (video game)Overwatch · Overwatch (video game)Apex · Apex LegendsTwitch · Twitch (streaming)Rogue · RoguelikeGrind · Grinding (video games)Nerf · Nerf (game balance)Loot · Loot boxSkin · Skin (video games)Mod · Game modRaid · Raid (video games)