RATCHET

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does ratchet mean? 

• RATCHET (noun)
  The noun RATCHET has 1 sense:

1. mechanical device consisting of a toothed wheel or rack engaged with a pawl that permits it to move in only one direction

  Familiarity information: RATCHET used as a noun is very rare.

• RATCHET (verb)
  The verb RATCHET has 1 sense:

1. move by degrees in one direction only

  Familiarity information: RATCHET used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• RATCHET (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Mechanical device consisting of a toothed wheel or rack engaged with a pawl that permits it to move in only one direction

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

rachet; ratch; ratchet

Hypernyms ("ratchet" is a kind of...):

mechanical device (mechanism consisting of a device that works on mechanical principles)

Meronyms (parts of "ratchet"):

click; detent; dog; pawl (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)

Holonyms ("ratchet" is a part of...):

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)

Derivation:

ratchet (move by degrees in one direction only)

• RATCHET (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they ratchet    ... he / she / it ratchets   
Past simple: ratcheted    / ratchetted   
Past participle: ratcheted    / ratchetted   
-ing form: ratcheting    / ratchetting   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Move by degrees in one direction only

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

rachet up; ratchet; ratchet down

Context example:

a ratcheting lopping tool

Hypernyms (to "ratchet" is one way to...):

advance; go on; march on; move on; pass on; progress (move forward, also in the metaphorical sense)

Sentence frame:

Something is ----ing PP

Derivation:

ratchet (mechanical device consisting of a toothed wheel or rack engaged with a pawl that permits it to move in only one direction)