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big end

American  

noun

Machinery.
  1. the end of a connecting rod or piston rod that is attached to a crankpin.


big end British  

noun

  1. Also called (in vertical engines): bottom end. the larger end of a connecting rod in an internal-combustion engine Compare little end

  2. the bearing surface between the larger end of a connecting rod and the crankpin of the crankshaft

"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 big end

First recorded in 1905–10


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.

See Examples For:

Another point he made, on a post-earnings-report conference call with analysts, is that software will actually be a big end user of AI.

From MarketWatch ● Feb. 26, 2026

The drain wrench has a big end and a smaller end, with prongs on both sides, so you can slip it into different types of drains.

From Washington Post ● Sep. 12, 2022

Still, Seattle has had Robert Nkemdiche active as a big end the last two weeks ahead of Collier, officially backing up starter Kerry Hyder.

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 28, 2021

But the big end of the broken bat flew into the first row of the stands about 20 feet past where the ball hit the net.

From Washington Times ● Apr. 4, 2016

I’d start at the big end and hammer in a wedge with the back side of my axe.

From "Old Yeller" by Fred Gipson

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