cogwheel
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: A wheel with teeth or cogs around its rim, designed to mesh with another toothed part (like another wheel or a rack) to transmit motion or change its speed or direction. It is a fundamental component in many machines and gear systems.
Usage
The word "cogwheel" is used to describe a specific mechanical component. It is often synonymous with "gear," though "cogwheel" can sometimes emphasize the individual wheel with its projecting teeth (cogs), while "gear" is a broader term for the entire toothed mechanism.
Examples
- The old clock's mechanism was driven by a series of brass cogwheels.
- One broken cogwheel can cause the entire machine to jam.
- He carefully cleaned the cogwheel before reassembling the gearbox.
Advanced Usage
- As a metaphor: Sometimes used metaphorically to describe a person as a small, seemingly insignificant but necessary part of a large organization or system.
- Example: He felt like just another cogwheel in the vast corporate machine.
Variants and Related Words
- Gear (noun): A more common general term for a toothed wheel that works with others to transmit motion. A cogwheel is a type of gear.
- Pinion (noun): A small cogwheel that engages with a larger one or with a rack.
- Sprocket (noun): A cogwheel designed to engage with a chain (like on a bicycle).
Synonyms
- Gear, toothed wheel, gearwheel.
Antonyms
There is no direct antonym, but a smooth, toothless wheel (like a pulley) serves a different mechanical function.
Related Phrases/Idioms
- A cog in the machine/wheel: An idiom describing someone who plays a small but necessary role in a large organization or process, with little individual power or recognition.
- Example: In the factory, each worker was just a cog in the wheel.
Noun
- a toothed wheel that engages another toothed mechanism in order to change the speed or direction of transmitted motion