noun Download 🔗Share A hand tool for adjusting nuts and bolts; a wrench. Examples : "I used a spanner to tighten the bolts on my bicycle. " item machine technical work Chat with AIVocabulary GamePractice Reading
noun Download 🔗Share One who, or that which, spans. Examples : "The mountain range was a natural spanner across the valley, making direct travel impossible. " technical utensil machine Chat with AIVocabulary GamePractice Reading
noun Download 🔗Share A hand tool shaped like a small crank handle, for winding the spring of a wheel lock on a musket. Examples : "The museum displayed a musket alongside its spanner, used to wind the lock. " utensil weapon history military Chat with AIVocabulary GamePractice Reading
noun Download 🔗Share A device in early steam engines for moving the valves for the alternate admission and shutting off of the steam. Examples : "The engineer adjusted the spanner on the old steam engine, carefully timing the admission of steam to each cylinder. " technology device machine technical history Chat with AIVocabulary GamePractice Reading
noun Download 🔗Share A problem, dilemma or obstacle; something unexpected or troublesome (in the phrase spanner in the works) Examples : "The unexpected power outage threw a spanner in the works for our online exam. " situation business Chat with AIVocabulary GamePractice Reading
noun Download 🔗Share (mildly) A stupid or unintelligent person; one prone to making mistakes, especially in language. Examples : ""Mark is such a spanner; he keeps forgetting to save his work, and then he has to do it all again." " person language character Chat with AIVocabulary GamePractice Reading