: 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
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But the mechanical valvetrain—which actuates valves via a mechanical cam follower (pushrod, tappet, finger)—reigned from 1900 to about the 1970s.
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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
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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 15 May. 2025.
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