English Explanatory Dictionary

pedal

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  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. an orthopedic structure or a footlike part.
  3. An effects unit, especially one designed to be activated by being stepped on.
  4. A stirrup.
  5. The ranks of pipes played from the pedal-board of an organ.
verb
  1. To operate a pedal attached to a wheel in a continuous circular motion.
  2. To operate a bicycle.
adj
  1. Of or relating to the foot.

Pronunciation

pĕdʹəl /ˈpɛdəl/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-pedal (noun, verb).wav pēdʹəl /ˈpiːdəl/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-pedal (adj).wav

Word forms

pedal pedals pedaling pedalling pedaled pedalled

Etymology

Borrowed from French pédale, Latin pedāl(is). By surface analysis, ped- + -al.

Derived words

ambipedal back-pedal backpedal back pedal brake brake pedal carpopedal cerebropedal clutch pedal combination pedal equipedal foot pedal footpedal gas pedal go pedal hexapedal hydropedal interpedal intrapedal lateropedal loop pedal monopedal multipedal overpedal pedal bin pedalboard pedalboat pedal bone pedal car pedal curve pedal cycle pedal cyclist pedality pedal keyboard pedaller pedally pedal note pedal point pedal pub pedal pusher pedal pushers pedal squares pedal steel pedal steel guitar pedal steel guitarist pedal stool pedal-stool pedal stroke pedal to the metal pentapedal plesiopedal pleuropedal put pedal to the metal put the pedal to the metal quadripedal sesquipedal soft-pedal soft pedal sostenuto pedal suprapedal sustaining pedal
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