Illustration of pulley
- pulley 2
pulley
noun
pul·ley ˈpu̇-lē 
plural pulleys
1
: a sheave or small wheel with a grooved rim and with or without the block in which it runs used singly with a rope or chain to change the direction and point of application of a pulling force and in various combinations to increase the applied force especially for lifting weights
2
: a pulley or pulleys with ropes to form a tackle that constitutes one of the simple machines
3
: a wheel used to transmit power by means of a band, belt, cord, rope, or chain passing over its rim
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web To keep the floor clear, install a pulley system to hang bikes from ceiling joints. 
Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Aug. 2022 The architect soon replied in an e-mail about how a pulley system of that weight might have shifted the building’s foundation, creating fractures, but this problem was, unfortunately, beyond the company’s scope. Weike Wang, The New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2022 Sections of the ballpark’s roof are connected by more than four miles of cable strung through a pulley system, which is operated by 200-horsepower motors. Jeremy Cluff, The Arizona Republic, 1 July 2022 Simply place the platter on the spindle and pull the belt out slightly at the top corner to pull it over the motor pulley. Brad Moon, Forbes, 7 May 2022 As Bailey steers past a buoy, Werder uses a wooden rod to hook the line connecting the buoy to the crab pot and slings it over the pulley. Julia Rosen, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Mar. 2022 Look for a high-quality ceiling-mount hoist rack or get crafty and create your own DIY pulley system to retrieve the high-up bikes. Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 July 2022 Sections of the ballpark’s roof are connected by more than four miles of cable strung through a pulley system, which is operated by 200-horsepower motors. Jeremy Cluff, The Arizona Republic, 1 July 2022 Because of concerns about the cables in the roof's pulley system, the Diamondbacks have been unable to open and close it while fans are present. Nick Piecoro, The Arizona Republic, 31 May 2022 See More
Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Aug. 2022 The architect soon replied in an e-mail about how a pulley system of that weight might have shifted the building’s foundation, creating fractures, but this problem was, unfortunately, beyond the company’s scope. Weike Wang, The New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2022 Sections of the ballpark’s roof are connected by more than four miles of cable strung through a pulley system, which is operated by 200-horsepower motors. Jeremy Cluff, The Arizona Republic, 1 July 2022 Simply place the platter on the spindle and pull the belt out slightly at the top corner to pull it over the motor pulley. Brad Moon, Forbes, 7 May 2022 As Bailey steers past a buoy, Werder uses a wooden rod to hook the line connecting the buoy to the crab pot and slings it over the pulley. Julia Rosen, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Mar. 2022 Look for a high-quality ceiling-mount hoist rack or get crafty and create your own DIY pulley system to retrieve the high-up bikes. Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 July 2022 Sections of the ballpark’s roof are connected by more than four miles of cable strung through a pulley system, which is operated by 200-horsepower motors. Jeremy Cluff, The Arizona Republic, 1 July 2022 Because of concerns about the cables in the roof's pulley system, the Diamondbacks have been unable to open and close it while fans are present. Nick Piecoro, The Arizona Republic, 31 May 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English poley, pully, from Anglo-French pulie, probably ultimately from Greek polos axis, pole — more at pole
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing pulley
Kids Definition
pulley
noun
pul·ley ˈpu̇-lē
plural pulleys
: a wheel over which a belt, rope, or chain is pulled to lift or lower a heavy object
Medical Definition
pulley
noun
pul·ley ˈpu̇l-ē
: trochlea