| 释义 |
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2024ratch•et /ˈrætʃɪt/USA pronunciation n. [countable]- Mechanical Engineeringa toothed wheel or bar, with a bar that fits into its teeth so that it turns in one direction only.
v. - to move by degrees: [~ + object + up/down]hoped to ratchet the economy up.[~ + up/down + object]Unemployment managed to ratchet down the economy.[no object* ~ + up/down]hoping the economy would ratchet up in time for the election.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2024ratch•et (rach′it),USA pronunciation n. - Mechanical Engineeringa toothed bar with which a pawl engages.
- Mechanical Engineering(not in technical use) a pawl or the like used with a ratchet or ratchet wheel.
- Mechanical Engineeringa mechanism consisting of such a bar or wheel with the pawl.
- Mechanical EngineeringSee ratchet wheel.
- a steady progression up or down:the upward ratchet of oil prices.
v.t., v.i. - to move by degrees (often fol. by up or down):to ratchet prices up; Interest rates have been ratcheting downward.
- Gmc
- 1650–60; alteration of French rochet; Middle French rocquet a blunt lance-head
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers:: ratchet /ˈrætʃɪt/ n - a device in which a toothed rack or wheel is engaged by a pawl to permit motion in one direction only
- the toothed rack or wheel forming part of such a device
vb - to operate using a ratchet
Etymology: 17th Century: from French rochet, from Old French rocquet blunt head of a lance, of Germanic origin: compare Old High German rocko distaff |