Definition of pulley
pulleys
1 : a sheave or small wheel with a grooved rim and with or without the block in which it runs used singly with a rope or chain to change the direction and point of application of a pulling force and in various combinations to increase the applied force especially for lifting weights
2 : a pulley or pulleys with ropes to form a tackle that constitutes one of the simple machines
3 : a wheel used to transmit power by means of a band, belt, cord, rope, or chain passing over its rim
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Recent Examples of pulley from the Web
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Whether that means ordering the top-grade Wagyu at $32 an ounce or the reasonable $30 flatiron steak, wet aged and darkened on the pulley grill, is up to you.
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Giant hook-and-chain pulleys still hang from the ceiling, relics from when this building was a place to manufacture electrical equipment.
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With no electricity, the Steiners used cranks and pulley systems to hoist heavy logs into place.
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In our last update, the dealer replaced a pulley and both fuel pumps, and yet the gravelly noise didn’t disappear.
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One challenge the researchers faced was devising a system of pulleys to make sure the load on the adhesive strips was distributed evenly.
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After the second trip and a replacement pulley, the engine still didn’t sound right.
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A tall funnel poking above the surface allows the user to breathe, but is so heavy it must be suspended by a pulley system.
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Metal warehouse style beams, used as pulleys to move grain, were one of the only remaining features.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'pulley.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Illustration of pulley
Origin and Etymology of pulley
Middle English poley, pully, from Anglo-French pulie, probably ultimately from Greek polos axis, pole — more at pole
PULLEY Defined for English Language Learners
pulley
playDefinition of pulley for English Language Learners
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: a wheel or set of wheels that is used with a rope, chain, etc., to lift or lower heavy objects
PULLEY Defined for Kids
pulley
playDefinition of pulley for Students
pulleys
: a wheel over which a belt, rope, or chain is pulled to lift or lower a heavy object
Medical Dictionary
Learn More about pulley
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See words that rhyme with pulley Spanish Central: Translation of pulley Nglish: Translation of pulley for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of pulley for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pulley
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