pedal

Pronunciation

• (noun) (verb) enPR: pĕdʹəl, IPA ^(key): /ˈpɛdəl/
• (adjective) enPR: pēdʹəl, IPA ^(key): /ˈpiːdəl/
• Homophones: peddle, petal (some dialects)

Noun

Singular pedal

Plural pedals

A bicycle pedal

1. A pedal is a kind of lever that is used by the foot to control a machine. A bicycle, a piano and a car all have pedals in them.

   He pressed his foot down on the pedal of the car and it started to go faster.

   A piano usually has two or three pedals to control the sound of the musical notes made.

2. (medicine) A pedal is a foot or a foot-like part of the body.

Related words

• brake pedal
• bicycle pedal

Verb

Plain form pedal

Third-person singular pedals

Past tense pedaled

Past participle pedaled

Present participle pedaling

Plain form pedal

Third-person singular pedals

Past tense pedalled

Past participle pedalled

Present participle pedalling

1. (transitive) When you pedal something, you step on a pedal that is linked to a wheel so that it can move in circles.

   He tried the pedal his bicycle in the woods, but a wheel was stuck in the mud.

2. (intransitive) When you pedal, you are trying to control and operate a bicycle.

   He tried to pedal across the countryside, but became breathless halfway through.

Adjective

Positive pedal

Comparative none

Superlative none

1. Something that is related to the foot.