Search Result for "ratchet": 
Wordnet 3.0

NOUN (1)

1. mechanical device consisting of a toothed wheel or rack engaged with a pawl that permits it to move in only one direction;
[syn: ratchet, rachet, ratch]


VERB (1)

1. move by degrees in one direction only;
- Example: "a ratcheting lopping tool"
[syn: ratchet, rachet up, ratchet down]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Ratchet \Ratch"et\ (-[e^]t), n. [Properly a diminutive from the same word as rack: cf. F. rochet. See 2d Ratch, Rack the instrument.] 1. A pawl, click, or detent, for holding or propelling a ratchet wheel, or ratch, etc. [1913 Webster] 2. A mechanism composed of a ratchet wheel, or ratch, and pawl. See Ratchet wheel, below, and 2d Ratch. [1913 Webster] Ratchet brace (Mech.), a boring brace, having a ratchet wheel and pawl for rotating the tool by back and forth movements of the brace handle. Ratchet drill, a portable machine for working a drill by hand, consisting of a hand lever carrying at one end a drill holder which is revolved by means of a ratchet wheel and pawl, by swinging the lever back and forth. Ratchet wheel (Mach.), a circular wheel having teeth, usually angular, with which a reciprocating pawl engages to turn the wheel forward, or a stationary pawl to hold it from turning backward. [1913 Webster] [1913 Webster] Note: In the cut, the moving pawl c slides over the teeth in one direction, but in returning, draws the wheel with it, while the pawl d prevents it from turning in the contrary direction. [1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

ratchet n 1: mechanical device consisting of a toothed wheel or rack engaged with a pawl that permits it to move in only one direction [syn: ratchet, rachet, ratch] v 1: move by degrees in one direction only; "a ratcheting lopping tool" [syn: ratchet, rachet up, ratchet down]
Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:

18 Moby Thesaurus words for "ratchet": cog, comb, crag, fang, harrow, jag, peak, pecten, projection, rake, sawtooth, snag, snaggle, spire, sprocket, spur, steeple, tooth