pedal
a foot-operated lever used to control certain mechanisms, as automobiles, or to play or modify the sounds of certain musical instruments, as pianos, organs, or harps.
a leverlike part worked by the foot to supply power in various mechanisms, as the bicycle.
Music.
a foot-operated keyboard, as on an organ or harpsichord.
any of the keys of such a keyboard.
to work or use the pedals, as in playing an organ or propelling a bicycle.
to work the pedals of (an organ, bicycle, etc.).
of or relating to a foot or the feet.
of or relating to a pedal or pedals.
using pedals: a pedal mechanism.
Origin of pedal
1Words that may be confused with pedal
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use pedal in a sentence
Up and down the pedals chased him, while the manuals blared approval.
Read ‘The King in Yellow,’ the ‘True Detective’ Reference That’s the Key to the Show | Robert W. Chambers | February 20, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTIn a spiffy gray suit, POTUS pedals like a champion—all for the sake of science.
Cookie Monster, Joe Biden and More of the White House’s Strangest Vine Posts | Kelsey Meany | June 15, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTAlso, people like the girls to floor the gas pedals, so it's a combination of women in sexy outfits and the sound of the engine.
It becomes impossible to use the combination pedals without disturbing the stops and couplers of the pedal department.
The Recent Revolution in Organ Building | George Laing MillerTo this general swell pedal (and its corresponding indicator key) any or all of the other swell pedals may be coupled at will.
The Recent Revolution in Organ Building | George Laing Miller
The combination pedals affecting the Great stop-knobs moved also the pedal stop-knobs belonging to the proper group.
The Recent Revolution in Organ Building | George Laing MillerIt has been spoken of as "the greatest assistance to the organist since the invention of combination pedals."
The Recent Revolution in Organ Building | George Laing MillerFor instance, who has not longed at times that the Swell Bourdon could be played by the pedals?
The Recent Revolution in Organ Building | George Laing Miller
British Dictionary definitions for pedal (1 of 2)
/ (ˈpɛdəl) /
any foot-operated lever or other device, esp one of the two levers that drive the chain wheel of a bicycle, the foot brake, clutch control, or accelerator of a car, one of the levers on an organ controlling deep bass notes, or one of the levers on a piano used to create a muted effect or sustain tone
(as modifier): a pedal cycle; a pianist's pedal technique
to propel (a bicycle, boat, etc) by operating the pedals
(intr) to operate the pedals of an organ, piano, etc, esp in a certain way
to work (pedals of any kind)
Origin of pedal
1British Dictionary definitions for pedal (2 of 2)
/ (ˈpiːdəl) /
of or relating to the foot or feet
Origin of pedal
2Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with pedal
see soft pedal.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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