/ped"l/ or, for 6-8, /peed"l/ , n. , v. , pedaled, pedaling or ( esp. Brit. ) pedalled, pedalling , adj.
n.
1. a foot-operated lever used to control certain mechanisms, as automobiles, or to play or modify the sounds of certain musical instruments, as pianos, organs, or harps.
2. a leverlike part worked by the foot to supply power in various mechanisms, as the bicycle.
3. Music.
a. a foot-operated keyboard, as on an organ or harpsichord.
b. any of the keys of such a keyboard.
c. See pedal point .
v.i.
4. to work or use the pedals, as in playing an organ or propelling a bicycle.
v.t.
5. to work the pedals of (an organ, bicycle, etc.).
adj.
6. of or pertaining to a foot or the feet.
7. of or pertaining to a pedal or pedals.
8. using pedals: a pedal mechanism.
[ 1605-15; ( pédale ) pedalis of the feet. See PED- 2 , -AL 1 ]