mechanical device consisting of a toothed wheel or rack engaged with a pawl that permits it to move in only one direction
Used in a Sentence
ratchet
How to use ratchet in a sentence. Example sentences and definitions for ratchet.
Editorial note
The first people to really ratchet up the research on original works game are the New Critics, starting in the 1930s.
Examples8
Definitions2
Parts of speech2
Quick take
mechanical device consisting of a toothed wheel or rack engaged with a pawl that permits it to move in only one direction
Meaning at a glance
The clearest senses and uses of ratchet gathered in one view.
move by degrees in one direction only; "a ratcheting lopping tool"
Definitions
Core meanings and parts of speech for ratchet.
noun
mechanical device consisting of a toothed wheel or rack engaged with a pawl that permits it to move in only one direction
verb
move by degrees in one direction only; "a ratcheting lopping tool"
Example sentences
The first people to really ratchet up the research on original works game are the New Critics, starting in the 1930s.
In the US we've seen this ratchet effect taking place to a frightening extent in the last decades both inside of computing and in general.
Similarly, in this situation, I'd strongly bet on there being a ratchet effect, where salaries are voted down in tough times, but not voted back up in good times.
It uses what we refer to as a "three step ratchet," which provides less-than-ideal forward secrecy and "future secrecy" semantics.
And of course, since the DEA is conducting surveillance, they know the average prescription for given conditions, which, reduced by fear, means that it must continually ratchet lower and lower.
Never hit a plateau in pay, but nonetheless, I've found the best way to ratchet up is to change jobs which has been sad, but true - I've left some pretty decent jobs because somebody else was willing to pay more.
We can stand up and say that a handful of isolated terrorist attacks is not justification to ratchet up governmental power to something a thousand times more terrifying than any homicidal extremist ever could be.
Granick strongly disagrees with you. Beating this drum again: as Granick explains it, had Swartz gone to trial and been acquitted of twelve of the thirteen charges he faced --- disproving 92% of the prosecution's case --- not only would the prosecution not lose credibility at sentencing for bringing an overwhelmingly spurious case to trial, but because unproven "relevant behavior" is material during sentencing, the damages alleged in the 12 disproven charges could still be used to ratchet up the sentence!
Frequently asked questions
Short answers drawn from the clearest meanings and examples for this word.
How do you use ratchet in a sentence?
The first people to really ratchet up the research on original works game are the New Critics, starting in the 1930s.
What does ratchet mean?
mechanical device consisting of a toothed wheel or rack engaged with a pawl that permits it to move in only one direction
What part of speech is ratchet?
ratchet is commonly used as noun, verb.