lever

lever
le|ver1 [ˈli:və US ˈlevər] n
[Date: 1200-1300; : Old French; Origin: levier, from lever 'to raise']
1.) a stick or handle on a machine or piece of equipment, that you move to operate it
▪ Pull this lever to open the gate.
2.) a long thin piece of metal that you use to lift something heavy by putting one end under the object and pushing the other end down
3.) something you use to influence a situation to get the result that you want
▪ Rich countries use foreign aid as a lever to achieve political aims.
lever 2
lever2 v [T]
1.) to move something with a lever
lever sth off/up/out etc
▪ He levered the stone into place.
2.) lever yourself up/onto/out of etc sth
to move your body by pushing on something with your arms to help you
▪ He slowly levered himself up.
3.) to make someone leave a particular job, situation etc
lever sb out
▪ They're trying to lever him out of his job.

Dictionary of contemporary English. 2013.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • lever — 1. (le vé. La syllabe le prend un accent grave quand la syllabe qui suit est muette : je lève, je lèverai) v. a. 1°   Placer dans une situation plus haute ce qui est étendu, pendant, etc. Levez cela davantage. On leva la poutre en l air. Le… …   Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré

  • lever — Lever, act. acut. Signifie haulser, et de bas tirer en hault, Erigere, comme, Levez vous, Erige te. Lever la main, pour prester serment, Manum ad iusiurandum attollere. Lever de terre, Ex humo sursum educere, extollere. Les François l esleverent… …   Thresor de la langue françoyse

  • Lever — Le ver (l[=e] v[ e]r or l[e^]v [ e]r; 277), n. [OE. levour, OF. leveor, prop., a lifter, fr. F. lever to raise, L. levare; akin to levis light in weight, E. levity, and perh. to E. light not heavy: cf. F. levier. Cf. {Alleviate}, {Elevate},… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Lever — Freguesia de Portugal …   Wikipedia Español

  • lever — Ⅰ. lever UK US /ˈliːvər/ US  /ˈlevər/ noun [C] ► a bar or handle which moves around a fixed point, so that one end of it can be pushed or pulled in order to control a machine or move a heavy object: »Lower the lever to lock the machine into place …   Financial and business terms

  • Lever — Sn Audienz während der Morgentoilette erw. bildg. (18. Jh.) Entlehnung. Entlehnt aus frz. lever m., einer Substantivierung von frz. lever aufheben, sich aufrichten, aufgehen , dieses aus l. levāre heben, aufrichten, erleichtern , zu l. levis… …   Etymologisches Wörterbuch der deutschen sprache

  • lever — lever; lever·man; lever·aged; lever·age; …   English syllables

  • lever — [lev′ər, lē′vər] n. [OFr leveour < lever, to raise < L levare < levis, light: see LIGHT2] 1. a bar used as a pry 2. a means to an end 3. Mech. a device consisting of a bar turning about a fixed point, the fulcrum, using power or force… …   English World dictionary

  • lever — (n.) c.1300, from O.Fr. levier (Mod.Fr. leveur) a lifter, a lever, agent noun from lever to raise, from L. levare to raise, from levis light in weight, from PIE root *legwh light, having little weight; easy, agile, nimble (Cf. Skt. laghuh quick,… …   Etymology dictionary

  • lever — ► NOUN 1) a rigid bar resting on a pivot, used to move a load with one end when pressure is applied to the other. 2) a projecting arm or handle that is moved to operate a mechanism. ► VERB 1) lift or move with a lever. 2) move with a concerted… …   English terms dictionary

  • Lever — Lev er (l[=e] v[ e]r), a. [Old compar. of leve or lief.] More agreeable; more pleasing. [Obs.] Chaucer. [1913 Webster] {To be lever than}. See {Had as lief}, under {Had}. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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