LEVER

lever

(noun) a rigid bar pivoted about a fulcrum

lever, lever tumbler

(noun) a flat metal tumbler in a lever lock

lever

(noun) a simple machine that gives a mechanical advantage when given a fulcrum

pry, prise, prize, lever, jimmy

(verb) to move or force, especially in an effort to get something open; “The burglar jimmied the lock”; “Raccoons managed to pry the lid off the garbage pail”

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology 1

Noun

lever (plural levers)

(obsolete, except in generalized senses below) A crowbar.

(mechanics) A rigid piece which is capable of turning about one point, or axis (the fulcrum), and in which are two or more other points where forces are applied; — used for transmitting and modifying force and motion.

Specifically, a bar of metal, wood or other rigid substance, used to exert a pressure, or sustain a weight, at one point of its length, by receiving a force or power at a second, and turning at a third on a fixed point called a fulcrum. It is usually named as the first of the six mechanical powers, and is of three kinds, according as either the fulcrum F, the weight W, or the power P, respectively, is situated between the other two, as in the figures.

A small such piece to trigger or control a mechanical device (like a button).

(mechanics) A bar, as a capstan bar, applied to a rotatory piece to turn it.

(mechanics) An arm on a rock shaft, to give motion to the shaft or to obtain motion from it.

Verb

lever (third-person singular simple present levers, present participle levering, simple past and past participle levered)

(transitive) To move with a lever.

(figuratively, transitive) To use, operate or move (something) like a lever (physically).

(figuratively, transitive) To use (something) like a lever (in an abstract sense).

(chiefly UK, finance) To increase the share of debt in the capitalization of a business.

Etymology 2

Adverb

lever (not comparable)

(obsolete) Rather.

Etymology 3

Noun

lever (plural levers)

(rare) A levee.

Anagrams

• Revel, elver, revel

Proper noun

Lever (plural Levers)

A surname.

Statistics

• According to the 2010 United States Census, Lever is the 14084th most common surname in the United States, belonging to 2135 individuals. Lever is most common among White (82.06%) and Black/African American (11.29%) individuals.

Anagrams

• Revel, elver, revel

Source: Wiktionary


Lev"er, a. Etym: [Old compar. of leve or lief.]

Definition: More agreeable; more pleasing. [Obs.] Chaucer. To be lever than. See Had as lief, under Had.

Lev"er, adv.

Definition: Bather. [Obs.] Chaucer. For lever had I die than see his deadly face. Spenser.

Le"ver, n. Etym: [OE. levour, OF. leveor, prop., a lifter, fr. F. lever to raise, L. levare; akin to levis light in weight, E. levity, and perh. to E. light not heavy: cf. F. levier. Cf. Alleviate, Elevate, Leaven, Legerdemain, Levy, n.]

1. (Mech.)

Definition: A rigid piece which is capable of turning about one point, or axis (the fulcrum), and in which are two or more other points where forces are applied; -- used for transmitting and modifying force and motion. Specif., a bar of metal, wood, or other rigid substance, used to exert a pressure, or sustain a weight, at one point of its length, by receiving a force or power at a second, and turning at a third on a fixed point called a fulcrum. It is usually named as the first of the six mechanical powers, and is three kinds, according as either the fulcrum F, the weight W, or the power P. respectively, is situated between the other two, as in the figures.

2. (Mach.) (a) A bar, as a capstan bar, applied to a rotatory piece to turn it. (b) An arm on a rock shaft, to give motion to the shaft or to obtain motion from it. Compound lever, a machine consisting of two or more levers acting upon each other.

– Lever escapement. See Escapement.

– Lever jack. See Jack, n., 5.

– Lever watch, a watch having a vibrating lever to connect the action of the escape wheel with that of the balance. Universal lever, a machine formed by a combination of a lever with the wheel and axle, in such a manner as to convert the reciprocating motion of the lever into a continued rectilinear motion of some body to which the power is applied.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

11 May 2024

FATIGUE

(noun) (always used with a modifier) boredom resulting from overexposure to something; “he was suffering from museum fatigue”; “after watching TV with her husband she had a bad case of football fatigue”; “the American public is experiencing scandal fatigue”; “political fatigue”


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