pulley Definition
pul·ley (po̵ol′ē)
noun pl. -·leys
- a small fixed wheel, sometimes turning in a block, with a grooved rim in which a rope or chain runs, as to raise a weight attached at one end by pulling on the other end: it changes the direction of effort but provides no mechanical advantage
- a combination of such wheels, used to increase the mechanical advantage
- a wheel that turns or is turned by a belt, rope, chain, etc., so as to transmit power
Etymology: ME poley < OFr polie < ML poleia < poledia < MGr *polidion, dim. of polos, pivot, windlass, axis: see wheel
pulley Synonyms
pulley Usage Examples
Preposition: on
shaft: Note the balanced cast-iron pulley on the motor shaft - a pleasing touch.
Converse of object
- attach: Having attached the pulleys, the cables were threaded through from the rails on the prompt side wall.
- gear: Activities from Inventor's Workshop link directly to the teaching of wheels and axles, gears, pulleys and cams.
Adjective modifier
- 3-step: The 3-step pulley together with its attached " sun " gear was free to rotate on the headstock spindle.
- 4-step: The drivetrain uses a 4-step pulley to give different blade speeds.
- two-step: The Bergeon electric motor ( with a two-step pulley ) was cradled in a cast-iron holder and available with both single and three-phase motors.
- crank: Once set, make an easier to see mark on the rear timing cover above the crank pulley aligned with the scribed timing mark.
- adjustable: An adjustable pulley is fitted to allow small variations for on-site balancing.
- rear: The main drive pulley was 4.25 " in diameter and the rear idler pulleys, running on ball bearings, 3.5 " .
Modifies a noun
- wheel: The pulley wheels attach to pulley stiles - the upright sides of the frame which hide the weights.
- bolt: You can easily verify which you have by simply looking at the pulley bolt head.
- rig: Again it is advisable to use rotten bottom pulley rigs here to minimize tackle losses.
- shaft: The countershaft pulley shaft was fitted with self-aligning ball bearings and provision was made to allow individual adjustment of each belt run.
- block: Block Rope Used with a pulley block to increase the power of a horse pulling a boat out of a lock.
Noun used with modifier
- headstock: The three rings of indexing holes in the headstock pulley were engaged by a pointer mounted on a swinging bracket.
- crankshaft: Above the crankshaft pulley, the oil pump sprouts from the block, a necessity to keep the overhead valve gear from seizing up.
- idler: This wire is passed over any number of small idler pulleys to the surface being cut.
- countershaft: This employed an unusual but effective trick: the motor pulley was a V but the large countershaft pulley was flat.
- tensioner: Once the tensioner has been removed, check the tensioner pulley.
- alternator: There have been no recorded instances of the alternator pulley seizing on vehicles in the UK.
Browse dictionary entries near pulley
- ‹ pullet
- ‹ pullback
- ‹ pull-up
- ‹ pull through
- ‹ pull rank
- ‹ pull over
- ‹ pull out
- ‹ pull oneself together
- ‹ pull-on
- ‹ pull off
- pulling ›
- Pullman ›
- Pullman kitchen ›
- pullorum disease ›
- pullout ›
- pullover ›
- pullulate ›
- pulmonary ›
- pulmonate ›
- pulmonic ›

