verb

depressurize

dee-PRESH-er-yze/diːˈpreʃəraɪz/

To reduce air or gas pressure inside something.

The technician depressurizes the air tank before removing its valve.

An engineer opens a release valve on a small safe laboratory pressure chamber; air escapes as light curved motion lines and a simple gauge needle points toward the low colored zone, no numerals or writing.

Etymology

deEnglishundo or reverse

+pressurEnglishpressure

+izeEnglishproduce or cause

To pressurize is to produce or maintain pressure artificially; de- reverses that operation. Depressurizing therefore means lowering the pressure inside a space, not necessarily removing all its air.

In context

BS and Beer Atlanta20:57

If we take a house that's this tight and we pull on it 50 CFM, it'll depressurize the whole house to 10 pascals.

BS & Beer: The Mixing Room Method & HVAC Design

More examples

Open the release valve slowly to depressurize the chamber.
The airplane cabin began to depressurize after a seal failed.
Workers depressurized the gas line before repairing the leak.

Forms

depressurize · depressurizes · depressurized · depressurizing

depressurization noun — The reduction of air or gas pressure.

Similar words

vent: Emphasizes letting air or gas escape through an opening.
deflate: Specifically reduces pressure in something inflated, often making it smaller.