camshaft
nounUK /ˈkæmʃɑːft/
US /ˈkæmʃæft/
A long spinning rod in an engine that pushes parts to open and close at the right time.
The mechanic replaced the worn camshaft to fix the engine's timing.
RELATED WORDS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. A shaft fitted with cams that converts rotary motion into reciprocating motion in machinery.
The camshaft in the loom controls the up-and-down movement of the threads.
3. A component in a mechanical press that drives the ram up and down.
Engineers inspected the camshaft for cracks after heavy use.
4. A rotating part in some toys and automata that makes figures move in a repeating pattern.
The little camshaft inside the music box made the dancer twirl.