ratchet
Also found in: Thesaurus, Acronyms, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.
ratch·et 1
(răch′ĭt)n.
1. A mechanism consisting of a pawl that engages the sloping teeth of a wheel or bar, permitting motion in one direction only.
2. The pawl, wheel, or bar of this mechanism.
v. ratch·et·ed, ratch·et·ing, ratch·ets
v.tr.
To cause to increase or decrease by increments: tried to ratchet up interest in the program.
v.intr.
To increase or decrease by increments.
[French rochet, from Old French rocquet, head of a lance (from the shape of the teeth), of Germanic origin.]
ratch·et 2
(răch′ĭt)n.
A dance featuring ratcheting movements of the arms bent at the elbows.
adj. Slang
Lacking in class, refinement, or good taste.
[From ratchet (the dance being introduced in the recording "Do the Ratchet" (1999) by American rapper Anthony Mark "Mr. Mandigo" Mandigo (born 1975) ).]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
ratchet
(ˈrætʃɪt)n
1. (Mechanical Engineering) a device in which a toothed rack or wheel is engaged by a pawl to permit motion in one direction only
2. (Mechanical Engineering) the toothed rack or wheel forming part of such a device
vb
3. (Mechanical Engineering) to operate using a ratchet
4. (usually foll by: up or down) to increase or decrease, esp irreversibly: electricity prices will ratchet up this year; Hitchcock ratchets up the tension once again.
[C17: from French rochet, from Old French rocquet blunt head of a lance, of Germanic origin: compare Old High German rocko distaff]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
ratch•et
(ˈrætʃ ɪt)n.
1.
v.t., v.i. a. a toothed bar or wheel with which a pawl engages.
b. a pawl or the like used with a ratchet.
c. a mechanism consisting of such a bar or wheel with the pawl.
2. to move by degrees (often fol. by up or down).
[1650–60; alter. of French rochet; Middle French rocquet a blunt lance-head < Germanic]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. |  ratchet - mechanical device consisting of a toothed wheel or rack engaged with a pawl that permits it to move in only one directionmechanical device - mechanism consisting of a device that works on mechanical principles detent, pawl, click, dog - a hinged catch that fits into a notch of a ratchet to move a wheel forward or prevent it from moving backward ratchet wheel - toothed wheel held in place by a pawl or detent and turned by a lever ratchet screwdriver, spiral ratchet screwdriver - a screwdriver with a ratchet (so the blade turns in only one direction) and a spiral in the handle (so the blade rotates) with downward pressure on the handle |
| Verb | 1. | ratchet - move by degrees in one direction only; "a ratcheting lopping tool" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations
ratchet
[ˈrætʃɪt]A. N (Tech) → trinquete m
ratchet up
A. VT + ADV → incrementar
B. VI + ADV → incrementarse, sufrir un incremento
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
ratchet
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
ratchet
[ˈrætʃɪt] n → arpionismoCollins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995