rack-and-pinion

[ rak-uh n-pin-yuh n ]
/ ˈræk ənˈpɪn yən /

adjective

of or relating to a mechanism in which a rack engages a pinion: rack-and-pinion steering.

Origin of rack-and-pinion

First recorded in 1900–05

Words nearby rack-and-pinion

Definition for rack-and-pinion (2 of 3)

rack and pinion

noun Machinery, Automotive.

See under rack1(def 5a).

Definition for rack-and-pinion (3 of 3)

rack 1
[ rak ]
/ ræk /

noun

verb (used with object)

Verb Phrases

rack out, Slang. to go to bed; go to sleep: I racked out all afternoon.
rack up,
  1. Pool. to put (the balls) in a rack.
  2. Informal. to tally, accumulate, or amass as an achievement or score: The corporation racked up the greatest profits in its history.

Origin of rack

1
1250–1300; Middle English rakke, rekke (noun) < Middle Dutch rac, rec, recke; compare Middle Low German reck, German Reck

SYNONYMS FOR rack

OTHER WORDS FROM rack

rack·ing·ly, adverb

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH rack

rack wrack wreak wreck racked wracked wreaked wrecked

Example sentences from the Web for rack-and-pinion

British Dictionary definitions for rack-and-pinion (1 of 7)

rack-and-pinion

noun

a device for converting rotary into linear motion and vice versa, in which a gearwheel (the pinion) engages with a flat toothed bar (the rack)

adjective

(of a type of steering gear in motor vehicles) having a track rod with a rack along part of its length that engages with a pinion attached to the steering column

British Dictionary definitions for rack-and-pinion (2 of 7)

rack 1
/ (ræk) /

noun

verb (tr)

See also rack up

Derived forms of rack

racker, noun

Word Origin for rack

C14 rekke, probably from Middle Dutch rec framework; related to Old High German recchen to stretch, Old Norse rekja to spread out

undefined rack

See wrack 1

British Dictionary definitions for rack-and-pinion (3 of 7)

rack 2
/ (ræk) /

noun

destruction; wreck (obsolete except in the phrase go to rack and ruin)

Word Origin for rack

C16: variant of wrack 1

British Dictionary definitions for rack-and-pinion (4 of 7)

rack 3
/ (ræk) /

noun

another word for single-foot, a gait of the horse

Word Origin for rack

C16: perhaps based on rock ²

British Dictionary definitions for rack-and-pinion (5 of 7)

rack 4
/ (ræk) /

noun

a group of broken clouds moving in the wind

verb

(intr) (of clouds) to be blown along by the wind

Word Origin for rack

Old English wrǣc what is driven; related to Gothic wraks persecutor, Swedish vrak wreckage

British Dictionary definitions for rack-and-pinion (6 of 7)

rack 5
/ (ræk) /

verb (tr)

to clear (wine, beer, etc) as by siphoning it off from the dregs
to fill a container with (beer, wine, etc)

Word Origin for rack

C15: from Old Provençal arraca, from raca dregs of grapes after pressing

British Dictionary definitions for rack-and-pinion (7 of 7)

rack 6
/ (ræk) /

noun

the neck or rib section of mutton, pork, or veal

Word Origin for rack

Old English hrace; related to Old High German rahho, Danish harke, Swedish harkla to clear one's throat

Idioms and Phrases with rack-and-pinion

rack