• (RP) IPA: /ˈliː.və/,
• (America) IPA: /ˈlɛv.ɚ/, /ˈliː.vɚ/,
• (Canada) IPA: /ˈliː.vɚ/

From Middle English lever, levore, levour, from Old French leveor, leveur, from Latin levātor, from levō.

lever (plural levers)

1. (mechanics) A rigid piece which is capable of turning about one point, or axis (the fulcrum), and in which are two or more other points where forces are applied; — used for transmitting and modifying force and motion.
   1. Specifically, a bar of metal, wood or other rigid substance, used to exert a pressure, or sustain a weight, at one point of its length, by receiving a force or power at a second, and turning at a third on a fixed point called a fulcrum. It is usually named as the first of the six mechanical powers, and is of three kinds, according as either the fulcrum F, the weight W, or the power P, respectively, is situated between the other two, as in the figures.
2. A small such piece to trigger or control a mechanical device (like a switch or a button).
3. (mechanics) A bar, as a capstan bar, applied to a rotatory piece to turn it.
4. (mechanics) An arm on a rock shaft, to give motion to the shaft or to obtain motion from it.
5. (obsolete, except in generalized senses below) A crowbar.
   • 1613, John Marston, William Barksted, The Insatiate Countess, IV.1:

     My lord, I brained him with a lever my neighbour lent me, and he stood by and cried, ‘Strike home, old boy!’

• levant, Levant
• levator (doublet)
• alleviate
• elevator, elevate
• leaven
• levitator, levitate

• French: levier
• German: Hebel
• Italian: leva
• Portuguese: alavanca
• Russian: рыча́г
• Spanish: palanca

• French: levier, manette
• German: Hebel
• Italian: levetta
• Portuguese: alavanca
• Spanish: palanca

lever (levers, present participle levering; simple past and past participle levered)

1. (transitive) To move with a lever.

   With great effort and a big crowbar I managed to lever the beam off the floor.

   • 1938 April, George Orwell [pseudonym; Eric Arthur Blair], chapter VII, in Homage to Catalonia, London: Secker & Warburg, →OCLC ↗:

     Someone found a pick and levered a burst plank out of the floor, and in a few minutes we had got a fire alight and our drenched clothes were steaming.

2. (figuratively, transitive) To use, operate or move (something) like a lever (physically).
   • 1961, V. S. Naipaul, A House for Mr Biswas, Vintage International, published 2001, Part Two, Chapter 1:

     Suddenly he had levered himself up from the sofa, rocking the lame man violently, and was walking towards the receptionist.

3. (figuratively, transitive) To use (something) like a lever (in an abstract sense).
4. (chiefly UK, finance) To increase the share of debt in the capitalization of a business.

• German: hebeln
• Portuguese: alavancar
• Spanish: apalancar

• Spanish: ampliar capital

From Middle English lever, comparative of leve, leef, equivalent to lief + -er.

lever (not comparable)

1. (obsolete) Rather.
   • [1531, William Tyndale, transl.], The prophete Ionas […], [Antwerp: Merten de Keyser], chapter iiij:[3] ↗:

     Now therfore take my life from me / for I had leuer dye then liue.

   • [1545?], John Heywood, The Playe Called The Foure PP […], London: […] Wyllyam Myddylton, →OCLC ↗; reprinted as John S. Farmer, editor, The Play Called The Four PP […] (The Tudor Facsimile Texts), London; Edinburgh: […] T. C. & E. C. Jack, […], 1908, →OCLC ↗, signature [E.ii.], verso ↗:

     The wolde ſome mayſter perhappes clowt ye / But as for me ye nede nat doute ye / For I had leuer be without ye / Then haue ſuche beſyneſſe aboute ye.

   • 1571, John Calvin, “Iohn Calvin to the Godly Readers Sendeth Greeting ↗”, in Arthur Golding, transl., The Psalmes of Dauid and Others. VVith M. Iohn Caluin’s Commentaries, London: […] Thomas East and Henry Middelton; for Lucas Harison, and G[e]orge Byshop, →OCLC ↗, 1st part:

     For although they were worthy of any puniſhment: yit had I leuer they might haue flooriſhed in welfare and ſafetie: […]

   • 1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book I, Canto IX”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC ↗, page 128 ↗:

     For leuer had I die, then ſee his deadly face.

Borrowed from French lever.

lever (plural levers)

1. (rare) A levee.
   • 1742, Miss Robinson, Mrs. Delany's Letters, II.191:

     We do not appear at Phœbus's Levér.

1. Surname.