Lexic.us

Definition of Lever

1. Noun. A rigid bar pivoted about a fulcrum.

2. Verb. To move or force, especially in an effort to get something open. "Raccoons managed to pry the lid off the garbage pail"

3. Noun. A simple machine that gives a mechanical advantage when given a fulcrum.

4. Noun. A flat metal tumbler in a lever lock.

Definition of Lever

1. a. More agreeable; more pleasing.

2. adv. Rather.

3. n. A rigid piece which is capable of turning about one point, or axis (the fulcrum), and in which are two or more other points where forces are applied; -- used for transmitting and modifying force and motion. Specif., a bar of metal, wood, or other rigid substance, used to exert a pressure, or sustain a weight, at one point of its length, by receiving a force or power at a second, and turning at a third on a fixed point called a fulcrum. It is usually named as the first of the six mechanical powers, and is of three kinds, according as either the fulcrum F, the weight W, or the power P, respectively, is situated between the other two, as in the figures.

Definition of Lever

1. Noun. (mechanics) A rigid piece which is capable of turning about one point, or axis (the ''fulcrum''), and in which are two or more other points where forces are applied; — used for transmitting and modifying force and motion. ¹

2. Noun. A small such piece to trigger or control a mechanical device (like a button) ¹

3. Noun. (mechanics) A bar, as a capstan bar, applied to a rotatory piece to turn it. ¹

4. Noun. (mechanics) An arm on a rock shaft, to give motion to the shaft or to obtain motion from it. ¹

5. Verb. (transitive) To move with a lever. ¹

6. Verb. (figuratively) (transitive) To use, operate like a lever. ¹

7. Verb. (chiefly UK finance) To increase the share of debt in the capitalization of a business. ¹

8. Adverb. (obsolete) Rather. ¹

9. Noun. (rare) A levee. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Lever

1. to move with a lever (a rigid body used to lift weight) [v -ED, -ING, -S]

Medical Definition of Lever

1. 1. A rigid piece which is capable of turning about one point, or axis (the fulcrum), and in which are two or more other points where forces are applied; used for transmitting and modifying force and motion. Specif, a bar of metal, wood, or other rigid substance, used to exert a pressure, or sustain a weight, at one point of its length, by receiving a force or power at a second, and turning at a third on a fixed point called a fulcrum. It is usually named as the first of the six mechanical powers, and is three kinds, according as either the fulcrum F, the weight W, or the power P. Respectively, is situated between the other two, as in the figures. 2. A bar, as a capstan bar, applied to a rotatory piece to turn it. An arm on a rock shaft, to give motion to the shaft or to obtain motion from it. Compound lever, a machine consisting of two or more levers acting upon each other. Lever escapement. See Escapement. Lever jack. See Jack. Lever watch, a watch having a vibrating lever to connect the action of the escape wheel with that of the balance. Universal lever, a machine formed by a combination of a lever with the wheel and axle, in such a manner as to convert the reciprocating motion of the lever into a continued rectilinear motion of some body to which the power is applied. Origin: OE. Levour, OF. Leveor, prop, a lifter, fr. F. Lever to raise, L. Levare; akin to levis light in weight, E. Levity, and perh. To E. Light not heavy: cf. F. Levier. Cf. Alleviate, Elevate, Leaven, Legerdemain, Levy. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Lever

leveling up levelised life-cycle cost levelism levelled levelled up leveller levellers levelless levelling levelling up

levelly levelness levelnesses levels levels up lever (current term) lever action lever arm lever hang lever lock

lever scale lever tumbler leverage leverageable leveraged leveraged buy-out leveraged buyout leverages leveraging levered

Literary usage of Lever

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. United States Supreme Court Reports by Lawyers Co-operative Publishing Company, United States Supreme Court (1888)
"In the Kelly machine, patented September 14, 1875, and in public use before the plaintiff's invention, a foot-lever and hand-lever had been used in ..."

2. South Eastern Reporter by West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals, West Publishing Company, South Carolina Supreme Court (1919)
"The petition and the proof showed that the plaintiff's injuries were caused by a lever being knocked over upon his arm, on September 6, 1915, and paragraph ..."

3. The Encyclopedia Americana: A Library of Universal Knowledge (1918)
"The "lever balance" consists essentially of a lever (qv) having arms of known lengths ... If the two arms of the lever are equal, the mass of the body under ..."

4. Science by American Association for the Advancement of Science (1883)
"lever В responses in both groups were not reinforced in either stimulus condition. High discrimination ratios in Fig. 1 mean that the animal seldom presses ..."

5. Supreme Court Reporter by Robert Desty, United States Supreme Court, West Publishing Company (1887)
"Г,) the weight of the whip keeping the upper end, c, of the lever in contact with the butt, and holding the whip steady in the socket. ..."

6. United States Supreme Court Reports by United States Supreme Court, Lawyers Co-operative Publishing Company (1901)
"The upper portion of the lever H serves as a handle to work It by. and to the lower end or ... When the lever H, and the zigzag shaft F, and their several ..."

7. Macmillan's Magazine by David Masson, George Grove, John Morley, Mowbray Morris (1872)
"For well-nigh forty years the name of lever has been familiar to) us as one of the ... Charles James lever was born in Dublin on the 31st of August, 1806, ..."

Other Resources: