camshaft

[kam-shaft, -shahft]

noun

1. Machinery.,  a shaft bearing integral cams.

camshaft

/ ˈkæmˌʃɑːft /

noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of camshaft¹

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

Example Sentences

To help the engine draw in air and expel exhaust more efficiently, a camshaft with a bit more lift and duration was assigned the task of opening and closing the engine’s valves.

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The belt turns the camshafts that open the engine’s valves and can cause major engine damage if it fails.

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Strained logistics, production delays and battles over intellectual property have heightened tensions between carmakers and this new breed of supplier, which wields far greater leverage than suppliers of camshafts, mufflers and pistons.

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It’s not like its V6s are rough riders, but another one of the straight-6 advantages is the fact that they need half as many of some parts, like camshafts and turbochargers.

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If it gets loose enough, it can jump and cause the crankshaft and camshafts to get out of sync, and that’ll set off your check engine light.

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