ratchet
1[ rach-it ]
/ ˈrætʃ ɪt /
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noun
a 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.
verb (used with or without object)
to move by degrees (often followed by up or down): to ratchet prices up; Interest rates have been ratcheting downward.
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Origin of ratchet
11650–60; alteration of French rochet;Middle French rocquet a blunt lance-head <Germanic
Other definitions for ratchet (2 of 2)
ratchet2
[ rach-it ]
/ ˈrætʃ ɪt /
adjective Slang.
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.
Also ratched [racht] /rætʃt/ .
Origin of ratchet
2First recorded in 1990–95; from a dance and genre of hip-hop music originating in Shreveport, Louisiana
OTHER WORDS FROM ratchet
ratch·et·ness, nounDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022
How to use ratchet in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for ratchet
ratchet
/ (ˈrætʃɪt) /
noun
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
verb
to operate using a ratchet
(usually foll by up or down) to increase or decrease, esp irreversiblyelectricity prices will ratchet up this year; Hitchcock ratchets up the tension once again
Word Origin for ratchet
C17: from French rochet, from Old French rocquet blunt head of a lance, of Germanic origin: compare Old High German rocko distaff
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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