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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Some stadia constructed in this period seem to have been caught up with the interest in ropes and pulleys demonstrated by engineers of Philip II of Macedon.
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First is the Antitouch Lamp, a tall wisp of a standard-lamp which shies away when a person comes near, using cables and pulleys to bend like reed in the wind.
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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