Spanish Conversation · Level 85
60 words
Spanish word
engranaje
Pronunciation
IPA/eŋgɾaˈnaxe/
Meaning
- masculine noungear
Example
El engranaje está roto.
The gear is broken.
More examples
Se rompió el engranaje de la bicicleta y no podemos cambiar de marcha.
The bicycle gear broke and we can't change gears.
Core concept
Set of toothed parts that mesh to transmit motion or force.
Common phrases
engranaje de la bicicleta
bicycle gear
engranaje del coche
car gear
avería en el engranaje
gear failure
Similar words
piñón: Small toothed wheel mounted on a shaft that meshes with another gear to transmit rotation.
rueda dentada: Circular wheel with teeth around its rim that transmits motion by meshing with others.
mecanismo: Arrangement of parts that work together to produce a specific mechanical movement.
Definition in Spanish
Conjunto de piezas con dientes que encajan entre sí para transmitir movimiento o fuerza en una máquina.
Word origin
From the verb engranar 'to mesh teeth' plus the noun-forming suffix -aje, denoting the grouped toothed parts that mesh to transmit motion.
Usage tips
- In technical contexts engranaje means a physical gear assembly, while car gears are usually called marcha, marchas, cambio, or caja de cambios.
Other meanings
- mechanismnoun
- machinerynoun
Related words
- engranarmeshverb
- engranamientomeshingnoun