ratchet
1a toothed bar with which a pawl engages.
(not in technical use) a pawl or the like used with a ratchet or ratchet wheel.
a mechanism consisting of such a bar or wheel with the pawl.
a steady progression up or down: the upward ratchet of oil prices.
to move by degrees (often followed by up or down): to ratchet prices up; Interest rates have been ratcheting downward.
Origin of ratchet
1Words Nearby ratchet
Other definitions for ratchet (2 of 2)
flashy, unrefined, etc.; low-class: ratchet girls wearing too much makeup.
exhibiting or affirming low-class traits in a way that is considered authentic: Better to stay a ratchet bitch than become a bougie poser like her.
extremely good; awesome.
Origin of ratchet
2- Also ratched [racht] /rætʃt/ .
Other words from ratchet
- ratch·et·ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use ratchet in a sentence
On the Base Rack, however, each extruded aluminum cross-beam has a dovetail-shaped rail running along each side, which means accessories like ratchet straps, rollers, and spare tire straps can attach at any point in just about any orientation.
The best car and automotive technologies of 2020 | By Dan Carney and Stan Horaczek | December 3, 2020 | Popular-ScienceTensions can only get ratcheted up so high before it really boils over.
Meanwhile, the pandemic has put a big fat pause on economic activity, squeezing investment banking fees and ratcheting up the risk of underperforming loans.
The unspeakability of the looming danger ratchets up the sense of dread.
We started the season in May ratcheting up our footprint from one to 10 DNR-operated Bell UH-1 Hueys.
West Coast states are calling in all their best planes and helicopters to fight fires | By Dan Pimentel/Flying | September 25, 2020 | Popular-Science
Lawmaking by legislatures is also a one-way ratchet—Legislators get credit for passing laws, not pruning them.
Every message, action and gesture seems calculated to ratchet up the anxiety of those who are listening.
Even After Hobby Lobby, the Religious Right is Still Terrified | Gene Robinson | July 6, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTSean Hannity versus Michael Savage—these two conservative radio hosts have recently ratchet up their rivalry.
George Zimmerman Wants to Profit Off Trayvon Martin’s Death | Dean Obeidallah | February 5, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTDancers are suspended in midair like the cast of a ratchet Cirque du Soleil performance.
Rihanna Teaches Miley Cyrus How to Twerk in Sexy Video for ‘Pour It Up’ | Amy Zimmerman | October 2, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST“Pour It Up” exists in a magical, ratchet room of requirement.
Rihanna Teaches Miley Cyrus How to Twerk in Sexy Video for ‘Pour It Up’ | Amy Zimmerman | October 2, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTWhen the tympanum vibrates under the influence of the voice, the stylus acts as a pawl and turns a ratchet-wheel.
Heroes of the Telegraph | J. MunroDrilling machines, both hand and power, hand and ratchet braces and breast-drill stocks.
Practical Mechanics for Boys | J. S. ZerbeSB is the primitive radius of the club tooth wheel, but both primitive and real radius of the ratchet wheel.
An Analysis of the Lever Escapement | H. R. PlaytnerOn the pendulum he had a little ratchet wheel, R, having thirty teeth.
On the side of the clock case was a contact maker, which closed the circuit by the pin on the ratchet wheel, R, once every minute.
British Dictionary definitions for ratchet
/ (ˈrætʃɪt) /
a device in which a toothed rack or wheel is engaged by a pawl to permit motion in one direction only
the toothed rack or wheel forming part of such a device
to operate using a ratchet
(usually foll by up or down) to increase or decrease, esp irreversibly: electricity prices will ratchet up this year; Hitchcock ratchets up the tension once again
Origin of ratchet
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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