pulley

American  

[pool-ee] / ˈpʊl i /

noun

plural

pulleys

1. a wheel, with a grooved rim for carrying a line, that turns in a frame or block and serves to change the direction of or to transmit force, as when one end of the line is pulled to raise a weight at the other end: one of the simple machines.

2. a combination of such wheels in a block, or of such wheels or blocks in a tackle, to increase the force applied.

3. a wheel driven by or driving a belt or the like, used to deliver force to a machine, another belt, etc., at a certain speed and torque.

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pulley British  

/ ˈpʊlɪ /

noun

1. a wheel with a grooved rim in which a rope, chain, or belt can run in order to change the direction or point of application of a force applied to the rope, etc

2. a number of such wheels pivoted in parallel in a block, used to raise heavy loads

3. a wheel with a flat, convex, or grooved rim mounted on a shaft and driven by or driving a belt passing around it

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pulley Scientific  

/ pl′ē /

1. A machine consisting of a wheel over which a pulled rope or chain runs to change the direction of the pull used for lifting a load. Combinations of two or more pulleys working together reduce the force needed to lift a load.

2. See also block and tackle

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Other Word Forms

• pulleyless adjective

Etymology

Origin of pulley

1275–1325; Middle English poley, puly < Middle French polie ≪ Medieval Greek *polídion little pivot, equivalent to pól ( os ) pole ² + -idion diminutive suffix

Example Sentences

His trips also revealed ornate loom pulleys and pottery, challenging stereotypes that African art is "limited to masks and figures", Oberhofer added.

From Barron's

A system of pulleys allows children on the ground to hoist food to kids above.

From Los Angeles Times

The water around me whirls and churns like cranks in a pulley system.

From Literature

Our beloved Cleo is attached to a complicated system of pulleys, winches, rope, and steel cables.

From Literature

The nearly century-old theater is stuffed to the rafters, quite literally, with set pieces, which hang from ropes and pulleys attached to the fly loft above the stage and wings.

From Los Angeles Times