lever
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++le·ver1 /ˈliːvə $ ˈlevər/ ●○○ noun [countable] 1 TDa stick or handle on a machine or piece of equipment, that you move to operate it 〔机器或设备的〕控制杆，操纵杆 Pull this lever to open the gate. 拉此横杆开启大门。 → gear lever2. TZa long thin piece of metal that you use to lift something heavy by putting one end under the object and pushing the other end down 杠杆3 EFFECT/INFLUENCEsomething you use to influence a situation to get the result that you want 〔影响局势的〕方法，手段 Rich countries use foreign aid as a lever to achieve political aims. 富国利用对外援助作为达到政治目的的手段。
Examples from the Corpus
lever• On the Chunky and double knit ribbers, this third control is a lever at the top of the tension dial.• Besides a standard keyboard, the memex would have rows of buttons and levers.• The extra weight acted as levers which made Hsu Fu twist and wrack even more.• We liked the positive action and shape of the best changing lever.• Many nations used sanctions as an economic lever to help end apartheid in South Africa.• No palm print on the gear lever, for instance.• Children simply crank the lever, and out pop perfectly formed hearts and stars.• All they lack now is the levers of power.Pull ... lever• She pulled a lever at the base of the cage.• The blacks went in, pulled the lever, came out, and got their chickens.• Then Tony pulled the lever and the wheel began to slow down.• They are let, loose by a man in a Plexiglas bubble controlling every-thing by pulling levers.• Complete the lace message - pull the selected lever and move the lace carriage to the right.• The cataract can now be turned off at the pull of a lever.• Card No. 3 has a new instruction: you will pull the selector lever on occasions and no needles will be selected.lever2 verb [transitive] 1 MOVE something OR somebodyto move something with a lever 〔用杠杆〕撬动lever something off/up/out etc He levered the stone into place. 他把石头撬到位。2 lever yourself up (also lever yourself onto/out of etc something) to move your body by pushing on something with your arms to help you 撑着某物使自己起来 He slowly levered himself up. 他慢慢地撑起身。3 LEAVE A JOB OR ORGANIZATIONto make someone leave a particular job, situation etc 挤走〔某人〕lever somebody out They’re trying to lever him out of his job. 他们正设法排挤他离职。→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
lever• Daniel levered himself out of the sofa and stood up.• Gingerly he reached forward, found a wall and levered himself up against it.• Ross levered himself up, going against the pain, going fast, making his hand stiff from wrist to fingertip.• I would take a Bourbon in one hand and lever off the lid with my two front teeth.• A central angled cut will make levering out easier 7 Use the crowbar to prise the frame from the wall.• The government, for example, emphasises physical renewal and the extent to which public expenditure has levered private sector investment.• He was using Kring to lever the top off the altar.• Dougal levered up the rectangle of hardwood.Origin lever (1200-1300) Old French levier, from lever “to raise”le·ver1 nounlever2 verbChineseSyllable
on stick a Corpus handle a or machine or
lever
le‧ver1 /ˈliːvə $ ˈlevər/ 
noun [countable]
Pull this lever to open the gate. ⇨ gear lever
2. a long thin piece of metal that you use to lift something heavy by putting one end under the object and pushing the other end down
3. something you use to influence a situation to get the result that you want:
Rich countries use foreign aid as a lever to achieve political aims.
lever2 verb [transitive]
1. to move something with a lever
lever something off/up/out etc
He levered the stone into place.
2. lever yourself up (also lever yourself onto/out of etc something) to move your body by pushing on something with your arms to help you:
He slowly levered himself up.
3. to make someone leave a particular job, situation etc
lever somebody out
They’re trying to lever him out of his job.
| I |
noun [countable] Date: 1200-1300
Language: Old French
Origin: levier, from lever 'to raise'
1. a stick or handle on a machine or piece of equipment, that you move to operate it:Language: Old French
Origin: levier, from lever 'to raise'
2. a long thin piece of metal that you use to lift something heavy by putting one end under the object and pushing the other end down
3. something you use to influence a situation to get the result that you want:
| II |
verb [transitive]1. to move something with a lever
lever something off/up/out etc
2. lever yourself up (also lever yourself onto/out of etc something) to move your body by pushing on something with your arms to help you:
3. to make someone leave a particular job, situation etc
lever somebody out