spanner
English
Etymology
Pronunciation
- Lua error in Module:parameters at line 95: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "UK" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. enPR: spăn'ə(r), IPA(key): /ˈspæn.ə(ɹ)/
- Lua error in Module:parameters at line 95: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "US" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. enPR: spăn'ər, IPA(key): /ˈspæn.ɚ/
Audio (US): (file) Audio (AU): (file) - Rhymes: -ænə(r)
Noun
spanner (plural spanners)
- (Australia, New Zealand, British, Ireland) A hand tool for adjusting nuts and bolts; a wrench.
- Pass me that spanner, Jake; there's just one more nut to screw in.
- (rare) One who, or that which, spans.
- 1915, Florence Kiper Frank, The Jew to Jesus: and other poems:
- The scheme of the spanner of continents and the desire of the little husbandman hoarding for his loved ones...
- (weaponry) A hand tool shaped like a small crank handle, for winding the spring of a wheel lock on a musket.
- (obsolete) A device in early steam engines for moving the valves for the alternate admission and shutting off of the steam.
- (UK) A problem, dilemma or obstacle; something unexpected or troublesome (in the phrase spanner in the works)
- Halfway through the production of Macbeth, the director found that the stage was smaller than he expected. This really threw a spanner in the works.
- (British, Ireland, mildly derogatory) A stupid or unintelligent person; one prone to making mistakes, especially in language.
Synonyms
- (hand tool for nuts and bolts): wrench (US)
Related terms
Descendants
- Malay: sepana
Translations
hand tool for adjusting nuts and bolts
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Anagrams
Categories:
- English terms suffixed with -er
- English 2-syllable words
- English terms with IPA pronunciation
- English terms with audio links
- Rhymes:English/ænə(r)
- English lemmas
- English nouns
- English countable nouns
- Australian English
- New Zealand English
- British English
- Irish English
- English terms with rare senses
- English terms with quotations
- en:Weapons
- English terms with obsolete senses
- English derogatory terms
- en:Tools