I. noun
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
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A nylon webbing strap is wrapped around the frame and is then tightened using a ratchet action of the clamp head.
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Another sinister plot; another twist of the federal ratchet .
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By the use of the ratchet , the investors agree to share success with the management.
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Drive direction can be changed but the ratchet can't be locked out: operation was positive but fiddly.
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Just as a ratchet turns easily one way but can not turn back, so genetic defects inevitably accumulate.
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The quick turnstiles metered the tokens with a noise of ratchets.
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There is a sort of upward ratchet effect where each achievement level becomes the baseline for the next change.
II. verb
COLLOCATIONS FROM CORPUS
■ ADVERB
up
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And all the time Banks keeps ratcheting up the suspense.
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Raising the minimum wage would ratchet up real incomes where disparities are at their worst and need is most clustered.
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Netscape Communications will announce new Internet products for businesses today, ratcheting up the pressure on Microsoft.
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
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And all the time Banks keeps ratcheting up the suspense.
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Netscape Communications will announce new Internet products for businesses today, ratcheting up the pressure on Microsoft.
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Raising the minimum wage would ratchet up real incomes where disparities are at their worst and need is most clustered.