Ratchet

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈrætʃɪt/
• Rhymes: -ætʃɪt

Full definition of ratchet

Noun

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.
4. (analogous) A procedure or regulation that goes in one direction, usually up.
• 2012-12-21, Simon Jenkins, We mustn't overreact to North Korea boys' toys, The threat of terrorism to the British lies in the overreaction to it of British governments. Each one in turn clicks up the ratchet of surveillance, intrusion and security. Each one diminishes liberty.

Verb

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

Adjective

1. (US, slang) ghetto (unseemly and indecorous)

Anagrams

• chatter