lever : Dictionary / Wörterbuch (BEOLINGUS, TU Chemnitz)

English Dictionary: lever	by the DICT Development Group
4 results for lever
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
lever n a rigid bar pivoted about a fulcrum a simple machine that gives a mechanical advantage when given a fulcrum a flat metal tumbler in a lever lock Synonym(s): lever, lever tumbler v 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" Synonym(s): pry, prise, prize, lever, jimmy
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Lever \Le"ver\ (l[emac]"v[etil]r [or] l[ecr]v"[etil]r; 277), n. [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}, {Levee}, {Levy}, n.] 1. (Mech.) 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 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. 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.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Lever \Lev"er\ (l[emac]"v[etil]r), a. [Old compar. of leve or lief.] More agreeable; more pleasing. [Obs.] --Chaucer. {To be lever than}. See {Had as lief}, under {Had}.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Lever \Lev"er\, adv. Rather. [Obs.] --Chaucer. For lever had I die than see his deadly face. --Spenser.