treadle
/ˈtredl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈtredl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈtre-dᵊl How to pronounce treadle (audio)/ (ame, mw)
treadle — noun
- treadlesingular
- treadlesplural
1. a foot-worked bar or pedal on a machine that keeps it running or turns one of it
a foot-worked bar or pedal on a machine that keeps it running or turns one of its wheels
Jude pushed the treadle to keep the old sewing machine moving.
collocation: push the treadle
In the museum, Mira watched the weaver tap the loom treadle with one heel.
collocation: loom treadle
Hamza repaired the cracked treadle before the potter's wheel jammed again.
At the farm sale, Anthony tested the grinder's treadle before paying for it.
- pedal
the more common modern word for a foot-operated control
- foot control
a broad term for any part worked by the foot
- lever
describes the shape or movement, but not specifically foot use
文法句型
press the treadle
work the treadle
loom treadle / sewing-machine treadle
用法筆記
Usually refers to older mechanical devices such as looms, sewing machines, lathes, and grinders. In modern everyday English, people more often say 'pedal' for newer machines and vehicles.
常見錯誤
treadle — verb
- treadlepresent simple I / you / we / they
- treadles3rd person singular
- treadling-ing form
- treadledpast simple
1. to press and work a treadle with your foot, often in a steady repeated motion
to press and work a treadle with your foot, often in a steady repeated motion
Christopher treadled steadily while the blacksmith shaped the hot iron.
intransitive use: treadled steadily
Noor treadled harder to keep the wheel turning at the same speed.
Vikram treadled with one foot and guided the cloth under the needle.
Hyun stopped treadling when the leather belt slipped off the wheel.
文法句型
treadle steadily
treadle with one foot
treadle the wheel
用法筆記
This sense focuses on the foot action itself. The machine may be understood from context, but the sentence often does not name it directly. Distinguish from verb/2, which usually names the machine being run.
常見錯誤
2. to make a machine run by pressing its treadle with your foot
to make a machine run by pressing its treadle with your foot
Ife treadled the sewing machine while her aunt cut the lining.
transitive use: treadled the sewing machine
Quan treadled the lathe for an hour to finish the chair legs.
collocation: treadle a lathe
The village potter treadled the wheel through the afternoon to fill the order.
After the power cut, the miller treadled the grain grinder to keep the flour coming.
文法句型
treadle a sewing machine
treadle a lathe
treadle a wheel
用法筆記
This sense names the machine that the foot action powers. Use it when the important information is what device is being operated, not just the movement of the foot on the treadle.