- pronunciation:
- le
vr
[or]
li
vr
- features:
- Word History, Word Explorer
part of speech: |
noun |
definition 1: |
a basic tool used to lift something or open something by lifting it out.
They used a lever to lift the heavy rock. |
definition 2: |
a handle used to control or set the position of a part in a machine.
|
related words: |
bar, control, key |
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derivation: |
leverlike (adj.) |
Lever comes from
levare, a Latin word that means "to raise," which comes from
levis, which means "light in weight." The simple machine we call a "lever" allows us to lift a heavy weight as easily as we could a much lighter one.