lug wrench
2
4.8
- noun
- /lʌg rɛntʃ/
- Specialized
:
llave de tuercas
Examples
-
Give me the lug wrench.
-
It's either that or we get the lug wrench and pry him out.
-
He opened the trunk and took out a lug wrench to change the flat tire.
-
The mechanic handed me a lug wrench to help loosen the stubborn lug nuts.
-
After lifting the car with a jack, she used the lug wrench to tighten the wheel bolts.
Synonyms
60
2.5
A hand tool with a shaped opening that grips and turns nuts and bolts
6
4.2
A hand tool with a handle and removable metal pieces that fit over and turn nuts and bolts
3
6.8
A tool that measures and applies the right tightness to bolts and nuts
2
3.0
A tool with one fixed and one movable jaw that grips and turns bolts
1
3.5
A tool with a closed circular end that fits over a nut or bolt to turn it
1
3.0
A tool with a movable jaw that fits different sizes of nuts and bolts
A tool that turns nuts and bolts to make them tight or loose
A wrench with a closed ring end that fits over a nut or bolt
A tool with two flat open jaws that grip nuts or bolts
A tool with a movable jaw that fits nuts and bolts of different sizes
How Powerful
Surface Forms
Morphology
This noun–noun compound is fully compositional: 'lug' identifies the target (the protruding tab or lug nut) and 'wrench' names the tool, so the phrase denotes a wrench for lugs/lug nuts. The modifier+head pattern is common in technical vocabulary and cross-linguistically transparent, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can readily infer the meaning.
Etymology
Lug wrench gets its name from what it does: the word lug refers to the 'lugs' or nuts that hold a wheel, and a wrench is a tool that turns them. So picture a tool that fits over the wheel 'nuts' to grab and turn them — that's why lug wrench means a tool for loosening or tightening wheel nuts.