: a lever or projection moved by some other piece (such as a cam) or intended to tap or touch something else to cause a particular motion
Examples of tappet in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
But the mechanical valvetrain—which actuates valves via a mechanical cam follower (pushrod, tappet, finger)—reigned from 1900 to about the 1970s.
—
Eric Tegler, Popular Mechanics, 10 May 2023
The noise police also installed hydraulic bucket tappets, which have the additional advantage of avoiding oil drainage when the engine is not running.
—William Jeanes, Car and Driver, 28 Apr. 2023
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Eric Tegler, Popular Mechanics, 10 May 2023
The noise police also installed hydraulic bucket tappets, which have the additional advantage of avoiding oil drainage when the engine is not running.
—William Jeanes, Car and Driver, 28 Apr. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Tappet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tappet. Accessed 24 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share