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connecting rod

American  

noun

Machinery.
  1. a rod or link for transmitting motion and force between a rotating and a reciprocating part, as between a piston and a crankshaft.


connecting rod British  

noun

  1. a rod or bar for transmitting motion, esp one that connects a rotating part to a reciprocating part

  2. such a rod that connects the piston to the crankshaft in an internal-combustion engine or reciprocating pump See also big end little end

  3. a similar rod that connects the crosshead of a steam engine to the crank

"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 connecting rod

First recorded in 1830–40

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:

Honda says in documents posted Friday by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that connecting rod bearings in the engine can wear and seize due to a manufacturing error, damaging the engines.

From Seattle Times ● Nov. 17, 2023

That can restrict oil flow to the connecting rod bearings, making them fail.

From Washington Post ● Sep. 25, 2015

Next the engine went thud-thud: a connecting rod had broken and the car had to be towed back to its garage.

From Time Magazine Archive

A 12-inch connecting rod, mounting flange and bow eye are included with the lifting cleat, which costs $261.

From Time Magazine Archive

He decided to give Doc one of his finest pieces—the connecting rod and piston from a 1916 Chalmers.

From "Cannery Row" by John Steinbeck

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