open-end wrench
- noun
- /ˈoʊpən ɛnd rɛntʃ/
- Specialized
:
llave de boca abierta
- She used an open-end wrench because the bolt was too close to the wall for a socket wrench.
- open-end wrench and socket
Examples
-
He used an open-end wrench to tighten the bolt.
-
He selected an open-end wrench to tighten the loose bolt under the sink.
-
Every mechanic's toolkit should include an open-end wrench set of various sizes.
-
Do you have an open-end wrench in your toolbox?
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To tighten the bolt, use an open-end wrench that fits snugly around it.
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He grabbed his toolbox and took out an open-end wrench to work on the car.
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Make sure you have an open-end wrench ready for any nut or bolt adjustments.
Synonyms
60
2.5
A hand tool with a shaped opening that grips and turns nuts and bolts
A thin tool with fixed jaws that fits narrow nuts under engine covers
How Heavy-duty
- Specialized
1
3.7
- US
60
2.5
- Specialized
3
6.8
6
4.2
- US
1
3.0
- Specialized
- Specialized
Surface Forms
Morphology
open-end + wrench
The phrase is directly compositional: 'open-end' (open + end) describes the physical property of the tool and attached to 'wrench' yields the meaning 'a wrench with open ends/jaws.' This is a regular noun-modifier construction that a B1 learner who knows 'open', 'end' and 'wrench' can readily infer, so the MWE is transparent.
Etymology
Open-end wrench comes from the tool's shape: it has U-shaped, open jaws at the end so you can slip it onto a nut or bolt from the side, which makes it handy in tight spots. That's why the name tells you how the tool works.