lost motion

American  

noun

Machinery.

1. motion of a machine or mechanism, especially a reciprocating one, during which no useful work is performed.

2. motion between parts in an assembly due to manufacturing tolerances, adjustments, slip, or wear.

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Etymology

Origin of lost motion

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

lost motion

It has over 15,000 parts, but so carefully is it made that lost motion is reduced practically to zero.

From Scientific American ● Jan. 14, 2013

Ambidextrous, he has a knack of changing the ball from one hand to another at the last second and getting it in the clear without a bit of lost motion.

From Time Magazine Archive

The ignition, whatever may be the system employed, is affected by lost motion and is retarded.

From Gas-Engines and Producer-Gas Plants A Practice Treatise Setting Forth the Principles of Gas-Engines and Producer Design, the Selection and Installation of an Engine, Conditions of Perfect Operation, Producer-Gas Engines and Their Possibilities, the Care of Gas-Engines and Producer-Gas Plants, with a Chapter on Volatile Hydrocarbon and Oil Engines by R. E. Mathot

Sure he did," Morris said, "although from what this here newspaper reporter tells me, Abe, there was a whole lot of lost motion about the investigation.

From Potash and Perlmutter Settle Things by Montague Glass

In the first of these a proper fit is obtained when the surfaces are in full contact, and the enveloped piece will move without undue friction or lost motion when the surfaces are oiled.

From Modern Machine-Shop Practice, Volumes I and II by Joshua Rose