Le"ver (lē"v&etilde;r or l&ebreve;v"&etilde;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.
Lev"er , adv. Rather. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
For lever
had I die than see his
deadly face.
Spenser.
Lev"er (lē"v&etilde;r), a. [Old compar. of leve or lief.]
More agreeable; more pleasing. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
To be lever than. See Had as lief, under Had.
Hear it pronounced