ratchet

ratchet IPA: /ˈrætʃɪt/ Rhymes: -ætʃɪt

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Noun: ratchet (plural ratchets)

1. A pawl, click or detent for holding or propelling a ratchet wheel, or ratch, etc.
2. A mechanism composed of a ratchet wheel, or ratch and pawl.
3. A ratchet wrench.

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Verb: ratchet (third-person singular simple present ratchets, present participle ratcheting, simple past and past participle ratcheted)

1. (transitive) To cause to become incremented or decremented.
2. (intransitive) To increment or decrement.
¶ It's time to ratchet up the intensity level here.