Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Ratchet
Ratch′et
(-ĕt)
, Noun.
1.
A pawl, click, or detent, for holding or propelling a ratchet wheel, or ratch, etc.
2.
A mechanism composed of a ratchet wheel, or ratch, and pawl. See
Ratchet wheel
, below, and 2d Ratch
. Ratchet brace
(Mech.)
, a boring brace, having a ratchet wheel and pawl for rotating the tool by back and forth movements of the brace handle.
– Ratchet drill
, a portable machine for working a drill by hand, consisting of a hand lever carrying at one end a drill holder which is revolved by means of a ratchet wheel and pawl, by swinging the lever back and forth.
– Ratchet wheel
(Mach.)
, a circular wheel having teeth, usually angular, with which a reciprocating pawl engages to turn the wheel forward, or a stationary pawl to hold it from turning backward.
☞ In the cut, the moving pawl c slides over the teeth in one direction, but in returning, draws the wheel with it, while the pawl d prevents it from turning in the contrary direction.
Go,
rate
thy minions, proud, insulting boy! Shakespeare
Conscience is a check to beginners in sin, reclaiming them from it, and
rating
them for it. Barrow.
Webster 1828 Edition
Ratchet
RATCH'ET
,Noun.
Definition 2024
ratchet
ratchet
English
A ratchet featuring a pawl (2) and gear (1) mounted on a base (3)
Noun
ratchet (plural ratchets)
- A pawl, click, or detent for holding or propelling a ratchet wheel, or ratch, etc.
- A mechanism composed of a ratchet wheel, or ratch and pawl.
- A ratchet wrench.
- (analogous) A procedure or regulation that goes in one direction, usually up.
- 2012 December 14, Simon Jenkins, “We mustn't overreact to North Korea boys' toys”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 188, number 2, page 23:
- The threat of terrorism to the British lies in the overreaction to it of British governments. Each one in turn clicks up the ratchet of surveillance, intrusion and security. Each one diminishes liberty.
-
Translations
pawl, click or detent for a ratchet wheel
mechanism composed of a ratchet wheel and pawl
|
ratchet wrench
|
|
Verb
ratchet (third-person singular simple present ratchets, present participle ratcheting, simple past and past participle ratcheted)
- (transitive) To cause to become incremented or decremented.
- It's time to ratchet up the intensity level here.
- (intransitive) To increment or decrement.
Translations
transitive
|
intransitive
|
Adjective
ratchet (comparative more ratchet, superlative most ratchet)