sprocket
noun
sprock·et ˈsprä-kət 
1
: a toothed wheel whose teeth engage the links of a chain
2
: a cylinder with teeth around the circumference at either end that project through perforations in something (such as motion-picture film) to move it through a mechanism (such as a projector)
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Carbon fiber is lashed rather heavily on the Ducati Streetfighter V4 Lamborghini, with the heel guards, rear-seat bodywork, TFT dash cover, ignition-switch cover, rear-sprocket protector and Akrapovič end cap all sporting carbon-fiber construction. 
Peter Jackson, Robb Report, 2 Sep. 2022 It's propelled along a surprisingly slender chain, anchored on each side of the river, with links an inch wide fed through a sprocket as the crank rotates. Neal Rubin, Detroit Free Press, 14 Aug. 2022 Two electric motors, each delivering eight shaft horsepower, are used; there is one to each rear wheel, the latter being driven by a rugged sprocket and chain system that is geared down to conserve power. B.c. George, Car and Driver, 27 June 2022 All 1990 and early 1991 Miatas were built with short-nose cranks with a fragile keyway where the lower timing belt sprocket was indexed. Dan Edmunds, Car and Driver, 2 Mar. 2022 The Idaho house has an amphitheater, a pond and a round, 12-foot metal sprocket, once used in a Montana mine, decorating its doors. Nancy Keates, WSJ, 5 Jan. 2022 Once the saw pierces the outer fabric, the chain tears into the synthetic fibers below, which so thoroughly entangle the chain and its sprocket that both are stopped dead in their tracks. Roy Berendsohn, Popular Mechanics, 11 Nov. 2021 The 16-foot tall stainless-steel structure depicts a white oval with black slashes painted across on a sprocket, atop red and white block-style posts. John Tuohy, The Indianapolis Star, 3 July 2021 Sometimes a single broken tooth on a tiny plastic sprocket can throw a proverbial wrench in the works. NBC News, 2 Mar. 2021 See More
Peter Jackson, Robb Report, 2 Sep. 2022 It's propelled along a surprisingly slender chain, anchored on each side of the river, with links an inch wide fed through a sprocket as the crank rotates. Neal Rubin, Detroit Free Press, 14 Aug. 2022 Two electric motors, each delivering eight shaft horsepower, are used; there is one to each rear wheel, the latter being driven by a rugged sprocket and chain system that is geared down to conserve power. B.c. George, Car and Driver, 27 June 2022 All 1990 and early 1991 Miatas were built with short-nose cranks with a fragile keyway where the lower timing belt sprocket was indexed. Dan Edmunds, Car and Driver, 2 Mar. 2022 The Idaho house has an amphitheater, a pond and a round, 12-foot metal sprocket, once used in a Montana mine, decorating its doors. Nancy Keates, WSJ, 5 Jan. 2022 Once the saw pierces the outer fabric, the chain tears into the synthetic fibers below, which so thoroughly entangle the chain and its sprocket that both are stopped dead in their tracks. Roy Berendsohn, Popular Mechanics, 11 Nov. 2021 The 16-foot tall stainless-steel structure depicts a white oval with black slashes painted across on a sprocket, atop red and white block-style posts. John Tuohy, The Indianapolis Star, 3 July 2021 Sometimes a single broken tooth on a tiny plastic sprocket can throw a proverbial wrench in the works. NBC News, 2 Mar. 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
origin unknown
First Known Use
1879, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
sprocket
noun
sprock·et ˈsprä-kət
: one of many points that stick up on the rim of a wheel ( sprocket wheel ) shaped so as to fit into the links of a chain