lever

¹

[ lev-er, lee-ver ]

noun

1. Mechanics. a rigid bar that pivots about one point and that is used to move an object at a second point by a force applied at a third. Compare machine ( def 4b ).
2. a tool, as a pry or a crowbar, for raising, moving, or opening something by leverage:

   There's a small lever in my toolbox that'll be perfect for prying off these narrow moldings.

3. a handle or bar that is manipulated to operate, control, or adjust a machine, mechanism, etc.:

   Pushing down the lever on the left will automatically open the door.

4. a means or agency of persuading or of achieving an end:

   Saying that the chairman of the board likes the plan is just a lever to get us to support it.

5. Horology. the pallet of an escapement.

verb (used with or without object)

1. to move with or apply a lever:

   to lever a rock; to lever mightily and to no avail.

Lever

²

[ lee-ver ]

noun

1. Charles James Cornelius O'Dowd, 1806–72, Irish novelist and essayist.

lever

/ ˈliːvə /

noun

1. a rigid bar pivoted about a fulcrum, used to transfer a force to a load and usually to provide a mechanical advantage
2. any of a number of mechanical devices employing this principle
3. a means of exerting pressure in order to accomplish something; strategic aid

verb

1. to prise or move (an object) with a lever

lever

/ lĕv′ər /

1. A simple machine consisting of a bar that pivots on a fixed support, or fulcrum , and is used to transmit torque . A force applied by pushing down on one end of the lever results in a force pushing up at the other end. If the fulcrum is not positioned in the middle of the lever, then the force applied to one end will not yield the same force on the other, since the torque must be the same on either side of the fulcrum. Levers, like gears, can thus be used to increase the force available from a mechanical power source.
2. See more at fulcrumSee also mechanical advantage

Derived Forms

• ˈlever-ˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• re·lever verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of lever¹

1250–1300; Middle English levere, levour for *lever < Anglo-French; Old French levier, equivalent to lev ( er ) to lift (< Latin levāre to lighten, lift, verbal derivative of levis light) + -ier -ier ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of lever¹

C13: from Old French leveour, from lever to raise, from Latin levāre, from levis light

Example Sentences

Whatever his course, he now has a better grasp of the levers of power in the administration he will soon lead than he did in his first term.

From Los Angeles Times

“We will use every tool, lever and authority to get the homeless off our streets,” Trump said in a video announcing his policy last year.

From Los Angeles Times

Animals previously exposed to THC in utero display a dramatically increased motivation to press a lever that would deliver a dose of opioid drugs compared to those that were not previously exposed to THC.

From Science Daily

“They have all the authority and the power in the world. They can pull a lever and everything moves. So, you gotta kind of question why they’re doing that.”

From Salon

During his ultimately victorious campaign for the presidency, Donald Trump made no bones about his intention to use the legal levers of government to go after his perceived enemies.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• crowbar
• pedal
• tool