camshaft

American

[kam-shaft, -shahft] / ˈkæmˌʃæft, -ˌʃɑft /

noun

Machinery. a shaft bearing integral cams.

camshaft British

/ ˈkæmˌʃɑːft /

noun

a shaft having one or more cams attached to it, esp one used to operate the valves of an internal-combustion engine

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of camshaft

First recorded in 1875–80; cam ¹ ( def. ) + shaft

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Camshaft, a wealth manager who had managed the funds, told the court that the money was transferred to a 100% subsidiary of Byju's.

From BBC • Mar. 10, 2024

Camshaft problems have cropped up in '07 Tundras powered by the biggest available 5.7-liter V8 engine, for which 71% of customers have so far opted.

From BusinessWeek • Jun. 15, 2007

Camshaft right along on underside of jacket and also driving oil pump 11 via 14.37.

From The Wright Brothers' Engines and Their Design by Hobbs, Leonard S.

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023