Meaning & use
adjustable wrench
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountable
A hand tool with a jaw that can be widened or narrowed to fit nuts and bolts of different sizes.
Grammar: Countable: one adjustable wrench, two adjustable wrenches.
Patterns
- use an adjustable wrench
- with an adjustable wrench
- an adjustable wrench for something
He tightened the bolt with an adjustable wrench.
You'll need an adjustable wrench to fix the sink.
She bought a small adjustable wrench for her bicycle repairs.
Word forms
| plural | adjustable wrenches |
|---|
Common combinations
- use an adjustable wrench
- Use an adjustable wrench to loosen the nut.
- a pair of adjustable wrenches
- The mechanic kept a pair of adjustable wrenches in his toolbox.
- adjustable wrench set
- This adjustable wrench set includes three sizes.
- tighten with an adjustable wrench
- Tighten the pipe with an adjustable wrench.
Synonyms and how they differ
- adjustable spanner
- The usual British term for the same tool.
- crescent wrench
- A common US name, originally a brand, for an adjustable wrench.
- monkey wrench
- A similar older tool with a different adjustment mechanism; not exactly the same.
Commonly confused: adjustable wrench or monkey wrench? adjustable wrench or socket wrench?
adjustable wrench vs monkey wrench
A monkey wrench is a related but different tool; an adjustable wrench usually has a worm-screw adjustment.
adjustable wrench vs socket wrench
A socket wrench uses interchangeable sockets and does not have an adjustable jaw.
Practice
Which tool has a jaw you can widen or narrow to fit different nuts?
Choose one answer.
An adjustable wrench has a movable jaw for different sizes. A hammer, screwdriver, and tape measure do not grip and turn nuts.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “adjustable wrench”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.