pulley

[ pool-ee ]

noun

, plural pul·leys.

1. a wheel, with a grooved rim for carrying a line, that turns in a frame or block and serves to change the direction of or to transmit force, as when one end of the line is pulled to raise a weight at the other end: one of the simple machines.
2. a combination of such wheels in a block, or of such wheels or blocks in a tackle, to increase the force applied.
3. a wheel driven by or driving a belt or the like, used to deliver force to a machine, another belt, etc., at a certain speed and torque.

pulley

/ ˈpʊlɪ /

noun

1. a wheel with a grooved rim in which a rope, chain, or belt can run in order to change the direction or point of application of a force applied to the rope, etc
2. a number of such wheels pivoted in parallel in a block, used to raise heavy loads
3. a wheel with a flat, convex, or grooved rim mounted on a shaft and driven by or driving a belt passing around it

pulley

/ pl′ē /

1. A machine consisting of a wheel over which a pulled rope or chain runs to change the direction of the pull used for lifting a load. Combinations of two or more pulleys working together reduce the force needed to lift a load.
2. See also block and tackle

Other Words From

• pulley·less adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pulley¹

1275–1325; Middle English poley, puly < Middle French polie ≪ Medieval Greek *polídion little pivot, equivalent to pól ( os ) pole ² + -idion diminutive suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of pulley¹

C14 poley, from Old French polie, from Vulgar Latin polidium (unattested), apparently from Late Greek polidion (unattested) a little pole, from Greek polos axis

Example Sentences

This easy lift pulley system allows you to free up garage space and store your bicycles above with a sturdy locking mechanism.

From Popular-Science

AmazonRather than take on the precarious task of heaving your bike up to a ceiling hook, use this pulley lift that assists in slowly and smoothly raising the bike.

From Popular-Science

This pulley system lifts the bike high on the wall and frees up floor space.

From Popular-Science

What these spiders have evolved isn’t a loading-dock pulley with a wheel.

From Science News For Students

They will guide them carefully through a 10th-floor window to the roof, then use pulleys to hang them on the recently reinforced steel frame on the rooftop.

From Washington Post

So we had to have a pulley system where he was lowered on cables.

From The Daily Beast

Bullock died while attempting to fix one of the presses in 1867: After it became stuck, he tried to kick a belt onto a pulley.

From The Daily Beast

But she bought a small pulley as well as the ground connections which Mr. Brill had in stock.

From Project Gutenberg

The aeroplane had been hoisted to its elevated position by means of a stout rope passing through a pulley at the top of the pole.

From Project Gutenberg

Shattered as were the bows of the wreck, he had succeeded in saving the two cat-heads with their three pulley-blocks.

From Project Gutenberg

The gap between the sawed portions permits a pulley to be fastened on the shaft to serve as the main drive.

From Project Gutenberg

The motor is lined up on the base, so that its pulley wheel will run a belt on the large wheel of the roller.

From Project Gutenberg