4  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Lever  \Lev"er\  (l[=e]"v[~e]r),  a.  [Old  compar.  of  leve  or  lief.] 
  More  agreeable;  more  pleasing.  [Obs.]  --Chaucer. 
 
  {To  be  lever  than}.  See  {Had  as  lief},  under  {Had}. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Lever  \Lev"er\,  adv 
  Rather.  [Obs.]  --Chaucer. 
 
  For  lever  had  I  die  than  see  his  deadly  face. 
  --Spenser. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  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},  {Leaven},  {Legerdemain},  {Levee},  {Levy},  n.] 
  1.  (Mech.)  A  rigid  piece  which  is  capable  of  turning  about 
  one  point,  or  axis  (the  fulcrum),  and  in  which  are  two  or 
  more  other  points  where  forces  are  applied;  --  used  for 
  transmitting  and  modifying  force  and  motion.  Specif.,  a 
  bar  of  metal,  wood,  or  other  rigid  substance,  used  to 
  exert  a  pressure,  or  sustain  a  weight,  at  one  point  of  its 
  length,  by  receiving  a  force  or  power  at  a  second  and 
  turning  at  a  third  on  a  fixed  point  called  a  fulcrum.  It 
  is  usually  named  as  the  first  of  the  six  mechanical 
  powers,  and  is  of  three  kinds,  according  as  either  the 
  fulcrum  F,  the  weight  W,  or  the  power  P,  respectively,  is 
  situated  between  the  other  two  as  in  the  figures. 
 
  2.  (Mach.) 
  a  A  bar,  as  a  capstan  bar,  applied  to  a  rotatory  piece 
  to  turn  it 
  b  An  arm  on  a  rock  shaft,  to  give  motion  to  the  shaft  or 
  to  obtain  motion  from  it 
 
  {Compound  lever},  a  machine  consisting  of  two  or  more  levers 
  acting  upon  each  other 
 
  {Lever  escapement}.  See  {Escapement}. 
 
  {Lever  jack}.  See  {Jack},  n.,  5. 
 
  {Lever  watch},  a  watch  having  a  vibrating  lever  to  connect 
  the  action  of  the  escape  wheel  with  that  of  the  balance. 
 
 
  {Universal  lever},  a  machine  formed  by  a  combination  of  a 
  lever  with  the  wheel  and  axle,  in  such  a  manner  as  to 
  convert  the  reciprocating  motion  of  the  lever  into  a 
  continued  rectilinear  motion  of  some  body  to  which  the 
  power  is  applied. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  lever 
  n  1:  a  rigid  bar  pivoted  about  a  fulcrum 
  2:  a  simple  machine  that  gives  a  mechanical  advantage  when 
  given  a  fulcrum 
  3:  a  flat  metal  tumbler  in  a  lever  lock  [syn:  {lever  tumbler}] 
  v  :  to  move  or  force,  esp.  in  an  effort  to  get  something  open 
  "The  burglar  jimmied  the  lock",  "Raccoons  managed  to  pry 
  the  lid  off  the  garbage  pail"  [syn:  {pry},  {prise},  {prize}, 
  {jimmy}] 

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