Pedal

/ˈpɛdəl/ · noun

Meaning

A lever operated by one's foot that is used to control or power a machine or mechanism, such as a bicycle or piano..

Definitions by Sense

1. A lever operated by one's foot that is used to control or power a machine or mechanism, such as a bicycle or piano.
2. (medicine) an orthopedic structure or a footlike part.
3. (music) An effects unit, especially one designed to be activated by being stepped on.
4. (equestrianism, humorous) A stirrup.
5. (music) The ranks of pipes played from the pedal-board of an organ.
6. To operate a pedal attached to a wheel in a continuous circular motion.
7. (intransitive) To operate a bicycle.
8. Of or relating to the foot.

Example Sentences

There are three pedals on manual cars, two on automatics.

A piano usually has two or three pedals.

the pedal of a loom

Of the Adirondackers who make their homes here and then rarely use them—the outdoorsiest of the outdoorspeople—some climb mountains, others cliffs; some push pedals, other paddles; […]

A small organ commonly has only one or two ranks on the pedal.

to pedal one's loom

He was out of breath from pedalling up the steep hill.

In the 1890’s “women were behind the stove,” he relates. But they cycled, too. “And they had difficulty pedalling bicycles with ankle-length skirts. “At the time,” Taylor said, “the most sinful thing a woman could do was to show light between her legs. “The original culotte was designed by a LAW member’s wife. The churches (in the East) termed this bepantsed female activity of biking “sinful bicycling,” he noted.

Synonyms for pedal

Antonyms for pedal

Related Words

Word Forms

• pedals
• pedaling
• pedalling
• pedaled
• pedalled

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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