Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

lever

/ˈlɛv.ɚ/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.64 in modern English

Syllables
le-ver
IPA
/ˈlɛv.ɚ/
8
Scrabble Score
5
Letters
2
Syllables
4
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A rigid piece which is capable of turning about one point, or axis (fulcrum), and in which are two or more other points where forces are applied; — used for transmitting and modifying force and motion.

noun

A rigid piece which is capable of turning about one point, or axis (fulcrum), and in which are two or more other points where forces are applied; — used for transmitting and modifying force and motion.

noun

A small such piece to trigger or control a mechanical device (like a switch or a button).

noun

A bar, as a capstan bar, applied to a rotatory piece to turn it.

noun

An arm on a rock shaft, to give motion to the shaft or to obtain motion from it.

noun

A crowbar.

Obsolete

verb

To move with a lever.

Transitive verb

verb

To use, operate or move (something) like a lever (physically).

Transitive verb

Example Sentences

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.

Origin

Word Breakdown

  • Root: *h₁lengʷʰ-, lever, leveor, -, levier, levātor

Regional Pronunciation

  • American English: /ˈlɛv.ɚ/
  • British English: /ˈliː.və/

Usage

Inflected Forms

levers (plural) levers (present, singular) levering (participle, present) levered (participle, past) levered (past) liever (alternative)

Derived Forms

delever exolever leverless leverman microlever multilever underlever leverage

Phrases

back lever beer lever front lever lever action lever arm lever shears pull a lever ratchet lever

Frequently Paired Words

alleviate elevator elevate leaven levant levator levitator levitate

Synonyms

purchase jimmy lever tumbler pry prise prize

Homonyms

leaver Lever

Rhymes With

never ever however whatever forever whenever whoever wherever clever whatsoever trevor whichever

Questions

How do you pronounce lever?
The recorded pronunciation is /ˈlɛv.ɚ/.
What does lever mean?
A rigid piece which is capable of turning about one point, or axis (fulcrum), and in which are two or more other points where forces are applied; — used for transmitting and modifying force and motion.
Where does lever come from?
It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce lever

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “lever”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈlɛv.ɚ/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “lever”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “lever” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.