What does ratchet mean?

Definitions for ratchet
ˈrætʃ ɪtratch·et

Here are all the possible meanings and translations of the word ratchet.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. ratchet, rachet, ratchverb

    mechanical device consisting of a toothed wheel or rack engaged with a pawl that permits it to move in only one direction

  2. ratchet, rachet up, ratchet downverb

    move by degrees in one direction only

    "a ratcheting lopping tool"

Wiktionary

  1. ratchetnoun

    A pawl, click or detent for holding or propelling a ratchet wheel, or ratch, etc.

  2. ratchetnoun

    A mechanism composed of a ratchet wheel, or ratch and pawl.

  3. ratchetnoun

    A ratchet wrench.

  4. ratchetverb

    To cause to become incremented or decremented.

  5. ratchetverb

    To increment or decrement.

    It's time to ratchet up the intensity level here.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Ratchetnoun

    a pawl, click, or detent, for holding or propelling a ratchet wheel, or ratch, etc

    Etymology: [Properly a diminutive from the same word as rack: cf. F. rochet. See 2d Ratch, Rack the instrument.]

  2. Ratchetnoun

    a mechanism composed of a ratchet wheel, or ratch, and pawl. See Ratchet wheel, below, and 2d Ratch

    Etymology: [Properly a diminutive from the same word as rack: cf. F. rochet. See 2d Ratch, Rack the instrument.]

Freebase

  1. Ratchet

    Ratchet is the name of several characters in the Transformers universes. According to the original creator of the Transformers names, Bob Budiansky, Ratchet was named after the character of Nurse Ratched from the film One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. The name Ratchet is almost always portrayed as an Autobot medic who turns into an ambulance. Ratchet is sometimes referred to by the trademarked names "Autobot Ratchet" or "Rescue Ratchet."

Dictionary of Nautical Terms

  1. ratchet

    A saw-toothed wheel in machinery, as the winch, windlass, &c., in which the paul catches.

Suggested Resources

  1. ratchet

    Song lyrics by ratchet -- Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by ratchet on the Lyrics.com website.

Anagrams for ratchet »

  1. chatter

How to pronounce ratchet?

How to say ratchet in sign language?

Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of ratchet in Chaldean Numerology is: 6

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of ratchet in Pythagorean Numerology is: 3

Examples of ratchet in a Sentence

  1. Bonnie Glaser:

    If tensions ratchet up between the United States and North Korea, then China will end up in the middle, being seen as working closely with the country which is the problem, not giving up its nuclear weapons.

  2. President Barack Obama:

    The notion that we can simply ratchet up sanctions further and further and further and then ultimately Putin changes his mind, I think is a miscalculation.

  3. Evan Armstrong:

    The more you ratchet down (delivery) time frames, the less margin you have for error.

  4. Jeremy Hunt:

    We are very concerned: we don't think either side wants a war, but we are very concerned that we could get into an accidental war and we are doing everything we can to ratchet things down.

  5. Trey Gowdy:

    Letters haven't worked. Southern politeness hasn't worked. We're going to ratchet it up.

Images & Illustrations of ratchet

  1. ratchetratchetratchetratchetratchet

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Translations for ratchet

From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary

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    a disposition that is confused or nervous and upset
    • A. fluster
    • B. knead
    • C. gloat
    • D. abrade

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