lever

A handle you move to control a machine.

• Pull the lever to open the gate.
• She moved the gear lever into reverse.
• Which lever controls the lift?

Similar words: handle, control handle

Common phrases: pull a lever, gear lever, control lever

A stiff bar that turns around a fixed point to move or lift something.

• Use a lever to lift the rock.
• The bar acted as a lever under the heavy lid.
• A seesaw is a simple example of a lever.

Common phrases: use a lever, simple lever

Something used to influence people or help achieve a result.

• Money can be a powerful lever.
• She used public support as a lever in negotiations.
• The tax system provides a lever for changing behaviour.

How to use it: a lever for something (Education can be a lever for social change.); a lever to do something (They used funding as a lever to encourage reform.)

Similar words: tool, means

Common phrases: political lever, use as a lever

To lift or move something using a long bar or similar tool.

• We levered the lid open.
• He levered the rock up with a metal bar.
• Can you lever this nail out?

How to use it: lever something out of something (We levered the stone out of the hole.)

Similar words: pry

Common phrases: lever something up, lever something open, lever something out