ratchet

n. hand tool containing a toothed wheel that can only move in one direction

v. make something increase or decrease in segmented steps

A ratchet may refer to:ratchet (device), a mechanical device for controlling rotational motionsocket wrench, a tool that makes use of the above mechanical deviceratchet (instrument), a music instrumentRatchet (Ratchet & Clank), a fictional character from the Ratchet & Clank video game seriesRatchet (Robots), a fictional character and the villain in the animation film RobotsRatchet (Transformers), a Transformers toy and fictional characterRatchet (Warcraft), a town in online game World of WarcraftRatchet, a fictional character from the ecological cartoon series Widget the World WatcherNurse Ratched, a fictional character from the novel and film One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest also Nurse Ratchet from an episode of the animated series Futuramaa slang term for a handgun; notably in rap music and originating in New York Citythe hounds of Annwn in the Cŵn Annwn in Brythonic mythologya mechanism in corporate financeRachetting is a constitutive behavior of many materialsQuantum stirring, ratchets, and pumping, in physicsBrownian ratchet, in physicsMuller's ratchet, in genetics
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Noun
1. mechanical device consisting of a toothed wheel or rack engaged with a pawl that permits it to move in only one direction
(synonym) rachet, ratch
(hypernym) mechanical device
(part-holonym) spiral ratchet screwdriver, ratchet screwdriver
(part-meronym) pawl, detent, click, dog
(derivation) rachet up, ratchet down
Verb
1. move by degrees in one direction only; "a ratcheting lopping tool"
(synonym) rachet up, ratchet down
(hypernym) advance, progress, pass on, move on, march on, go on
(derivation) rachet, ratch

(n.)
A pawl, click, or detent, for holding or propelling a ratchet wheel, or ratch, etc.
  

(n.)
A mechanism composed of a ratchet wheel, or ratch, and pawl. See Ratchet wheel, below, and 2d Ratch.
  

A heavy turnbuckle with course-screw threads and midships handle, equipped with pelican hooks on both ends for the purpose of rapidly tightening up wire lashings holding the barges of a tow together. It is widely used on the rivers. (TNDOT1)