cog

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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

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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

Ramírez never went back down and instead turned into a key cog for the team, playing second base when Dansby Swanson went down with an oblique injury and Nico Hoerner was moved to short. — Andy Martinez, Chicago Tribune, 25 Sep. 2026

This season, with the graduation of the two team leaders, Zack O’Brien and Costanzo have become major cogs in the Sheehan offense. — Lori Riley, Hartford Courant, 19 Sep. 2026

Verb

The car’s eight-speed ‘box swaps cogs without a hitch, although Porsche’s PDK feels slightly snappier. — Matthew MacConnell, Forbes.com, 6 May 2026

Thrustmaster says its Direct Axial Drive technology nearly eliminates cogging while the new wheel base delivers five newton-meters of constant torque to increase force feedback effects and responsiveness. — Andrew Liszewski, The Verge, 11 Oct. 2024

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