Meaning & use
pulley
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountabletechnical
A wheel with a groove around its edge that a rope or chain runs over, making it easier to lift or move heavy things.
Grammar: Countable; often used in systems of several pulleys.
Patterns
- a system of pulleys
The builders raised the beam with a rope and pulley.
A single pulley changes the direction of the force you apply.
He fixed a pulley to the ceiling to lift the heavy crate.
nouncountablespecialist
A wheel in a machine that carries a belt to pass movement from one part to another.
Grammar: Engineering use; found in engines and motors.
Patterns
- a belt and pulley
The drive belt slipped off the pulley.
A worn pulley made the engine squeal.
The mechanic replaced the pulley on the alternator.
nouncountableinformal
A gym machine in which a weight is raised by a cable running over a wheel.
Grammar: Fitness use, often called a cable pulley.
Patterns
- pulley machine
He did triceps pushdowns on the pulley.
The gym has a pulley for rowing exercises.
She adjusted the pulley to a lower setting.
Word forms
| plural | pulleys |
|---|
Common combinations
- rope and pulley
- They hoisted the bucket with a rope and pulley.
- pulley system
- A pulley system makes lifting much easier.
- belt pulley
- The belt pulley drives the fan.
- fixed pulley
- A fixed pulley only changes the direction of force.
- block and pulley
- The block and pulley were rusted.
Synonyms and how they differ
- block
- Block is the sailor's word for a pulley housing, and is used for ropes on ships.
- hoist
- A hoist is a whole lifting device, while a pulley is one part of such a machine.
- sheave
- Sheave is the technical name for the grooved wheel itself and sounds more specialist.
- winch
- A winch winds a rope on a drum, while a pulley only redirects it.
Word family
Commonly confused: pulley or pulley? pulley or lever?
pulley vs pulley
The plural is pulleys, not pullies.
pulley vs lever
A lever is a bar that turns around a pivot, while a pulley is a wheel with a rope.
Practice
To lift the heavy bucket from the well, the farmer ran a rope over a ___.
Choose one answer.
A rope runs over a pulley to lift loads. A lever, hinge and wedge are other simple tools but do not use a rope on a wheel.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “pulley”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.