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babbitt
1[ bab-it ]
adjective
- pertaining to or made of Babbitt metal.
verb (used with object)
- to line, face, or furnish with Babbitt metal.
Babbitt
2[ bab-it ]
noun
- Irving, 1865–1933, U.S. educator and critic.
- Milton Byron, 1916–2011, U.S. composer.
- (italics) a novel (1922) by Sinclair Lewis.
- (often lowercase) a self-satisfied person who conforms readily to conventional, middle-class ideas and ideals, especially of business and material success; Philistine: from the main character in the novel by Sinclair Lewis.
Babbitt
1/ ˈbæbɪt /
noun
- derogatory.a narrow-minded and complacent member of the middle class
babbitt
2/ ˈbæbɪt /
verb
- tr to line (a bearing) or face (a surface) with Babbitt metal or a similar soft alloy
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Notes
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Derived Forms
- ˈBabbittry, noun
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Word History and Origins
Origin of babbitt1
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Word History and Origins
Origin of babbitt1
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Example Sentences
At one point, Powers invokes Milton Babbitt's 1958 essay "Who Cares If You Listen?"
The state turned blue for Bill Clinton and elected two prominent Democratic governors, Bruce Babbitt and Janet Napolitano.
Though Babbitt turns ninety this year, Georgie Babbitt still lives and breathes and harrumphs.
What, Babbitt wonders in another quiet moment, is it all about?
The most startling thing about Babbitt today is not its satire but the haunting, if brief, moments of introspection.
It is such accidents as these that are prevented by the use of an easily-melted babbitt metal.
Consequently the babbitt is placed in the bearing box in the form of a thin lining within which the shaft revolves.
These shims provide the method of taking up the wear in the babbitt that will eventually result.
To babbitt any kind of a box, first chip out all of the old babbitt and clean the shaft and box thoroughly with benzine.
When the babbitt has cooled, break the box apart by driving a cold chisel between the two halves.
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