lever
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lever¹
- /ˈliː.və/ UK
- /ˈlɛv.ɚ/ Canada, US
- /ˈli.vɚ/ Canada, US
- /ˈliː.və/ Australia
Sounds like leaver, Lever · Rhymes with -iːvə(ɹ), -ɛvə(ɹ)
Where it comes from
From Middle English lever, levore, levour, from Old French leveor, leveur (“a lifter, lever (also Old French and French levier)”), from Latin levātor (“a lifter”), from levō (“to raise”). Doublet of levator.
noun levers
- A rigid piece which is capable of turning about one point, or axis (fulcrum), and in which are two or more other points where forces are applied; — used for transmitting and modifying force and motion.
- Specifically, 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. Retractable steps and handrails are provided on each side of the cars. The steps, which are under the control of the guard, are operated by hand levers in the entrance vestibule.
- A small such piece to trigger or control a mechanical device (like a switch or a button).
- A bar, as a capstan bar, applied to a rotatory piece to turn it. A doorknob of whatever roundish shape is effectively a continuum of levers, with the axis of the latching mechanism—known as the spindle—being the fulcrum about which the turning takes place.
- An arm on a rock shaft, to give motion to the shaft or to obtain motion from it.
- A crowbar. My lord, I brained him with a lever my neighbour lent me, and he stood by and cried, ‘Strike home, old boy!’
Similar: jimmy
verb levers · levering · levered
-
To move with a lever.
With great effort and a big crowbar I managed to lever the beam off the floor.
Similar: purchase
- To use, operate or move (something) like a lever (physically). Sullen now, with stultified spleen, Mrs Dibble grappled her crutches and levered herself upright after an ungainly struggle.
- To use (something) like a lever (in an abstract sense). He was a man who levered his way from small-time communist hack to political power by tapping into the most potent vein of historical juice in the Balkans: nationalism.
- To increase the share of debt in the capitalization of a business. "The equity holders want you to 'lever up,' use as much debt as you can," said David Stanley, chairman of Kansas City-based Payless Cashways,
lever²
- /ˈliː.və/ UK
- /ˈlɛv.ɚ/ Canada, US
- /ˈli.vɚ/ Canada, US
- /ˈliː.və/ Australia
Sounds like leaver, Lever · Rhymes with -iːvə(ɹ), -ɛvə(ɹ)
Where it comes from
From Middle English lever, comparative of leve, leef (“dear, beloved, lief”), equivalent to lief + -er. Related to German lieber (“rather”).
adverb liever
- Rather. Now therfore take my life from me / for I had leuer dye then liue.
lever³
- /ˈliː.və/ UK
- /ˈlɛv.ɚ/ Canada, US
- /ˈli.vɚ/ Canada, US
- /ˈliː.və/ Australia
Sounds like leaver, Lever · Rhymes with -iːvə(ɹ), -ɛvə(ɹ)
Where it comes from
Borrowed from French lever.
noun levers
- A levee. We do not appear at Phœbus's Levér.
Lever⁴
proper noun Levers
- A surname.
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: prize, pry, prise, jimmy, lever tumbler, cam, leverage, engine, crowbar, tool, escapement, hose, weapon, stepping-stone, driver, latch
noun
Similar: jimmy
Translations
Every language
noun rigid piece
| Español | palanca |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 지레 jire |
| 日本語 | 梃子 teko |
| 中文 | 槓桿 /杠杆 gànggǎn |
| हिन्दी | उत्तोलक uttolak, लीवर līvar |
| Português | alavanca |
| Français | levier |
| Deutsch | Hebel |
| Italiano | leva |
| Ελληνικά | μοχλός mochlós |
| Română | pârghie |
| Русский | рыча́г ryčág |
| Tiếng Việt | đòn bẩy |
| العربية | مُخْل muḵl, مُحْل muḥl, عَتَلَة ʕatala, رَافِعَة rāfiʕa |
| עברית | מָנוֹף manóf |
noun small such piece to trigger or control a mechanical device
| Español | palanca, maneta |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 지레 jire |
| 中文 | 槓桿 /杠杆 gànggǎn |
| Português | alavanca |
| Français | levier, manette |
| Deutsch | Hebel |
| Italiano | levetta |
| Ελληνικά | μοχλός mochlós |
verb to use like a lever
| Español | centrarse en |
|---|
verb to move with a lever
| Español | apalancar, palanquear |
|---|---|
| Português | alavancar |
| Deutsch | hebeln |
verb finance: to increase the share of debt
| Español | ampliar capital |
|---|
Talk about this word "lever." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/lever. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. lever. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/lever "lever." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/lever.Cite this
@misc{lever_2026,
title = {lever},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/lever},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
