Meaning & use
ratchet
Last updated
A mechanical device with a toothed wheel or bar that allows motion in only one direction.
See it in a sentence
He used a ratchet wrench to loosen the stubborn bolt.
The car's parking brake uses a simple ratchet mechanism to stay locked.
A note on using this word
This entry covers the mechanical tool sense; the word is also used as slang with a very different, informal meaning that varies by region and context.
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