ball bearing
8
3.4
- noun
- /bɔl ˈbɛrɪŋ/
- Specialized
:
rodamiento de bolas
- When repairing the skateboard, I replaced the damaged ball bearings for better performance.
- sealed ball bearing
- ball bearing construction
- duty ball bearing
Because almost all of modern machines require ball bearings in order to operate.
- Because almost all of modern machines require ball bearings in order to operate.
- Basically, if you can't see, you can feel what time it is using these ball bearings that rotate on magnets.
- This is my new ball bearing storage.
- It's just the, the, the nucleus itself and they're on perfect ball bearings, right?
Examples
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Unlike air bearings, which operate best at very high speeds, ball bearings do best at lower rotational rates.
Academic text (2009) -
Its beautiful aerodynamic streamlined body, its smoothness of action made silent by electroporous metal ball bearings.
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So this must run around this top bit here and the ball bearing must be getting pushed down to allow water to go through.
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Because almost all of modern machines require ball bearings in order to operate.
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The cam has a ball bearing ring to avoid friction with the plate.
Academic text (1991) -
Souska's famous for its ball bearings.
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The trick, however, was figuring out how to incorporate these ball bearings into a microfabricated device.
Academic text (2009) -
Since 1989, for example, imported ball bearings have been subject to tariffs ranging above 50 percent.
Academic text (2005) -
Ghodssi estimates that rotors supported by ball bearings could run at speeds between 10,000 to 200,000 revolutions per minute.
Academic text (2009) -
Modern bicycles rely on ball bearings to ensure smooth rotation of the wheels.
Synonyms
20
6.4
A small part that helps a wheel or machine part turn smoothly
How Complex
- Specialized
1
5.5
- Specialized
8
3.4
- Specialized
1
6.0
- Specialized
20
6.4
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly compositional: 'ball' specifies the type of 'bearing' (a bearing that uses balls), so a learner who knows 'ball' and 'bearing' can infer the MWE's meaning. This modifier+noun pattern is common across languages (e.g. Spanish 'rodamiento de bolas', French 'roulement à billes') and follows regular English compounding, making it immediately understandable at B1.
Etymology
Ball bearing is a plain picture: small metal balls sit between two rings and let the rings turn smoothly. The balls carry the load and stop the parts from rubbing, so the name means 'a bearing' that helps 'reduce friction'.