PULLEY Definition & Meaning

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pulley

[ pool-ee ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

plural pulleys.

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.
a combination of such wheels in a block, or of such wheels or blocks in a tackle, to increase the force applied.
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

/ ˈ��ʊ��ɪ /

noun

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
a number of such wheels pivoted in parallel in a block, used to raise heavy loads
a wheel with a flat, convex, or grooved rim mounted on a shaft and driven by or driving a belt passing around it

pulley

/ ��l′ŧ /

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.
See also block and tackle

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Other �y��vlog Forms

��ܱ�l��·�� adjective

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of pulley¹

1275–1325; Middle English poley, puly < Middle French polie ≪ Medieval Greek *��Ǳ�í�徱�ǲ� little pivot, equivalent to ��ó�� ( os ) pole ² + -idion diminutive suffix

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�y��vlog 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

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

The bears lived in a treehouse surrounded by innovative systems of rigs and pulleys.

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Prior to the police operation, most of the miners were only able to get underground through a makeshift pulley system operated by people at the surface.

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As of 1:55 p.m., rescuers had removed dirt down to the trapped man’s thigh but needed to remove more before hoisting him out of the trench using a pulley system, Scott said.

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The compound bow features mechanical pulleys, telescopic sights and release aids to assist accuracy.

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I saw my patient had opened the door by using a pulley in his mouth.

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