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Definition of pulley

pulley

/ˈpʊl.i/
pul · ley
Plural:pulleys
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pulley Lexical Profile

pulley Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A mechanical device consisting of a wheel with a grooved rim in which a pulled rope, chain, or cable runs, used to change the direction of a force or to lift heavy loads.

Example

"The construction crew rigged a pulley to hoist the heavy bags of cement to the third floor of the scaffolding."

2

A wheel on a shaft or continuous belt used to transmit power in a machine.

Example

"The mechanic had to replace a worn drive belt that was slipping off the engine's main pulley."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for pulley

• Rhymes for pulley

• Nearby Words

pulasan
pull
pulled pork
pulley
pullover
pulmonaria
pulsatilla

Word Origin & Etymology

From Middle English 'poley', borrowed from Old French 'polie', which is likely derived from Medieval Greek 'polidion', a diminutive of 'polos' meaning 'pivot' or 'axis'.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Pulley. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 21, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/pulley
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