lever

B2 Topic:Tools, Machines & Construction

US /ˈlɛv.ɚ/ UK /ˈliː.və/ See IPA manual

Minimal pairs

Sounds like leather /ð/ vs /v/ Sounds like laver /ɛ/ vs /eɪ/

Freq #11646

Meanings

1

noun
a rigid bar that turns around a fixed point and is used to lift or move something

Use the lever to lift the stone.
2

noun
a small handle or control used to operate a machine

Pull the lever to start the pump.
3

verb
to move or force something with a lever or similar tool

He tried to lever the lid off the crate.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a rigid bar that turns... bar

2 noun · a small handle or control... handle control

3 verb · to move or force something... pry force

Word family

Derived forms deleverexoleverleverageleverlesslevermanmicrolevermultileverside-leverunderlever

Related forms alleviate elevate elevator leavenlevantlevatorlevitatelevitator

Common collocations

gear lever Noun + noun

Etymology

From Middle English lever, levore, levour, from Old French leveor, leveur (“a lifter, lever (also Old French and French levier)”), from Latin levātor (“a lifter”), from levō (“to raise”). Doublet of levator.

Topics

Tools, Machines & Construction

External links

# lever

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** noun, verb
**IPA (US):** /ˈlɛv.ɚ/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈliː.və/
**Frequency rank:** 11646

## Meanings
1. a rigid bar that turns around a fixed point and is used to lift or move something
2. a small handle or control used to operate a machine
3. to move or force something with a lever or similar tool

## Examples
- Use the lever to lift the stone.
- Pull the lever to start the pump.
- He tried to lever the lid off the crate.

## Synonyms
- handle
- bar
- pry

## Derived Forms
- delever
- exolever
- leverage
- leverless
- leverman
- microlever
- multilever
- side-lever
- underlever

## Related Forms
- alleviate
- elevate
- elevator
- leaven
- levant
- levator
- levitate
- levitator

## Etymology
From Middle English lever, levore, levour, from Old French leveor, leveur (“a lifter, lever (also Old French and French levier)”), from Latin levātor (“a lifter”), from levō (“to raise”). Doublet of levator.

## Topics
- Tools, Machines & Construction

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