pedal

[ped-l, peed-l]

noun

1. 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.

2. a leverlike part worked by the foot to supply power in various mechanisms, as the bicycle.

3. Music.

   1. a foot-operated keyboard, as on an organ or harpsichord.

   2. any of the keys of such a keyboard.

   3. pedal point.

verb (used without object)

pedaled, pedaling , pedalled, pedalling .

1. to work or use the pedals, as in playing an organ or propelling a bicycle.

verb (used with object)

pedaled, pedaling , pedalled, pedalling .

1. to work the pedals of (an organ, bicycle, etc.).

adjective

1. of or relating to a foot or the feet.

2. of or relating to a pedal or pedals.

3. using pedals.

   a pedal mechanism.

pedal

¹

/ ˈpɛdəl /

noun

1. 1. 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

   2. ( as modifier )

      a pedal cycle

      a pianist's pedal technique

verb

1. to propel (a bicycle, boat, etc) by operating the pedals

2. (intr) to operate the pedals of an organ, piano, etc, esp in a certain way

3. to work (pedals of any kind)

pedal

²

/ ˈpiːdəl /

adjective

1. of or relating to the foot or feet

Word History and Origins

Origin of pedal¹

1605–15; (< French pédale ) < Latin pedālis of the feet. See ped- ², -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of pedal¹

C17: from Latin pedālis; see _pedal ²

Origin of pedal²

C17: from Latin pedālis, from pēs foot

Idioms and Phrases

see soft pedal.

Example Sentences

As I squeezed the pedal harder, the animated speedometer—designed a bit like an Aztec sundial, with spiky points blooming around the center—grew in radiance.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

From the passenger seat, Vishnu Persaud coaches me on working the clutch: “So you’re going to slide your foot off the pedal. Just let the bottom of your foot pivot off your Achilles’ heel.”

Read more on Wall Street Journal

E-bikes with pedals are also permitted and hard-shelled helmets are required for all bikers.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Someone finally barks “Get him!” as a bunch of agents feebly give chase; the man pedals away like he’s a Tour de France champion with a peloton hot on his trail.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

There’s another fiddle, there’s pedal steel, there’s a crystalline piano line winding its way through the depths.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• crowbar 
• tool 

When To Use

What does pedal mean?

A pedal is a foot-operated lever that controls some kind of mechanism. The most common kinds of pedals are those on a bicycle, the brake pedal and gas pedal (accelerator) in a car, and the pedals used in musical instruments like pianos and organs.Pedal can also be a verb meaning to operate a pedal, as in You’d better pedal faster! In American English, the past tense is spelled pedaled and the continuous tense is spelled pedaling. In British English, as with many other words, the l is doubled: pedalled and pedalling.Example: When I was a kid, I liked to pedal my bike as fast as I could and then take my feet off the pedals and watch them keep spinning.