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

intransitive verb

1

obsolete : to cheat in throwing dice

2

obsolete : deceive

3

obsolete : to use venal flattery

transitive verb

1

: to direct the fall of (dice) fraudulently

2

obsolete : wheedle

cog

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verb (2)

cogged; cogging

transitive verb

: to connect (timbers, joists, etc.) by means of mortises and tenons

cog

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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

Verb

On Windows, click the Settings cog icon on the Start menu, then choose Apps. —David Nield, Popular Science, 3 May 2023

But while some WebEx employees took their earnings and split — wary of making the transition from fast-growing startup to cog in a Fortune 500 corporation — Yuan stuck around. —Ken Fowler, CNN, 23 Nov. 2020

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)

1532, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Verb (2)

1823, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1830, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing cog

• cog railway

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