cog

1 of 5

noun (1)

ˈkäg 

1

: a tooth on the rim of a wheel or gear

2

: a subordinate but integral person or part

cogged

ˈkägd 

adjective

cog

2 of 5

verb (1)

cogged; cogging

transitive verb

1

: to direct the fall of (dice) fraudulently

2

obsolete : wheedle

intransitive verb

1

obsolete : to cheat in throwing dice

2

obsolete : deceive

3

obsolete : to use venal flattery

cog

3 of 5

verb (2)

cogged; cogging

transitive verb

: to connect (timbers, joists, etc.) by means of mortises and tenons

cog

4 of 5

noun (2)

: a tenon on a beam or timber

cog

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abbreviation

cognate

Examples of cog in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

This spring, Netflix has Japanese rights to all 47 games of the World Baseball Classic in Tokyo, which should be massive in that country, given the international ascendancy of stars such as Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, both key cogs in the Los Angeles Dodgers two-time World Series winners. —David Bloom, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026

Finch’s patience paid off in the playoffs with both guys, with Anderson serving as a key cog in Minnesota’s run to the Western Conference Finals in 2024, and Randle doing the same in 2025. —Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 21 Jan. 2026

Verb

Although second-year 7-foot sharpshooter Quinten Post and 6-foot-9 incumbent big Trayce Jackson-Davis are respectable enough as bench rotation cogs, neither has emerged as a traditional low post option capable of competing against the frontcourt trees of the Western Conference. —Alex Kirschenbaum, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Nov. 2025

Click the Settings cog icon near your profile photo, then press Privacy & Safety > End-to-end encrypted chats. —PC Magazine, 21 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English cogge, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Swedish kugge cog

Verb (1)

obsolete cog a trick

Verb (2)

probably alteration of cock to cog

First Known Use

Noun (1)

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (1)

1567, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Verb (2)

1823, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1858, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing cog

• cog railway

Rhymes for cog

• blog
• bog
• clog
• dog
• flog
• fog
• frog
• grog
• hog
• jog
• log
• og

Kids Definition

cog

noun

ˈkäg

1

: a tooth on the rim of a wheel adjusted to fit notches in another wheel or bar and to give or receive motion

2

: a person whose job is of low rank but still important