Definitions

1. noun

a device with a toothed wheel that turns only in one direction, used for tightening or loosening something, such as a nut or a bolt.

“She used a ratchet to loosen the stubborn bolt.”

2. verb

to tighten or secure something by using a ratchet, or to cause something to move or tighten by using a ratchet.

“He ratcheted the screw to hold the door in place.”

3. verb

to increase or progress gradually, especially in a difficult or unpleasant way.

“The situation was ratcheting out of control.”

4. noun

a mechanism for adjusting something, such as the volume or pitch of a sound.

“The DJ used a ratchet to adjust the music’s pitch.”