Meaning & use
derailleur
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountable
A movable part on a bicycle that pushes the chain sideways to change gears.
Grammar: Countable: you can say 'a derailleur' or 'two derailleurs'. It usually appears with 'front' or 'rear'.
Patterns
- front derailleur
- rear derailleur
- adjust the derailleur
The rear derailleur needs adjusting because the chain keeps slipping.
He replaced the broken derailleur with a new one.
A good derailleur makes gear changes smooth even on steep hills.
Word forms
| plural | derailleurs |
|---|
Common combinations
- front derailleur
- The front derailleur moves the chain between the two front chainrings.
- rear derailleur
- The rear derailleur has a spring that keeps the chain tight.
- adjust the derailleur
- You should adjust the derailleur if shifting feels rough.
- derailleur hanger
- The derailleur hanger is a small metal piece that attaches the derailleur to the frame.
Synonyms and how they differ
- gear mechanism
- A general term for any system that changes gears; derailleur is more specific to bicycles.
Commonly confused: derailleur or derail?
derailleur vs derail
Derail means to leave the tracks (for a train) or to ruin a plan; it is not a bicycle part.
Practice
Which part of a bicycle moves the chain to change gears?
Choose one answer.
The derailleur is the mechanism that shifts the chain sideways. A brake caliper stops the wheel, a crankset holds the chainrings, and a pedal is what you push.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “derailleur”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.