lever
UK/'levә/US
IELTSGREB2
Definitions
n.
A rigid bar that turns on a fixed point, used to lift or move a heavy load
杠杆；操纵杆
v.
To move or pry something with a lever or with effort
用杠杆撬动；撬开
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedlev (lift) + -er (thing that does) = the tool that lifts. A lever lets a small downward push raise a heavy weight on the other end — the most literal lev word, and the source of the abstract leverage.
Root lev still carries 12 more wordsWhy It Means This
A lever is the simplest machine for beating weight: push down hard on the long end and the short end lifts a load far heavier than you could raise by hand. That mechanical 'small force, big result' is exactly the idea that the figurative leverage borrows.
Common Collocations
- 1.pull a lever拉动操纵杆
- 2.control lever控制杆
- 3.gear lever变速杆
- 4.lever open撬开
Example Sentences
- 1.
She pulled the lever to start the machine.
- 2.
Use a crowbar to lever the lid off the crate.