pedal

You probably know a pedal as the part you push with your foot on a bicycle. But "pedal" has more than one meaning. It can mean any part you press with your foot to control something, like the gas or brake in a car, or the pedals on a piano. As a verb, "pedal" usually means to move a bicycle by pushing these parts with your feet. So when you ride through town, you can see how this simple foot control helps people move or control a machine.

The word "pedal" has a range of meanings, all linked to control or movement by foot. Most commonly, a pedal is the part of a bicycle or other machine that you push with your foot. In a sentence like "She pedaled her bike up the hill," the word is used as a verb to show that she moved the bicycle forward by pushing with her feet.

But "pedal" is not limited to bicycles. A car has gas, brake, and sometimes clutch pedals. A piano has pedals that change the sound. A sewing machine may also have a pedal that controls its speed. In each case, it is a part operated by the foot to control a machine or instrument. As a verb, "to pedal" usually means to ride and drive a bicycle by pushing the pedals again and again.

The word also appears in common expressions. For example, to "soft-pedal" something means to make it seem less strong or less important. Be careful not to confuse this with "peddle," which means to sell things. There are also phrases about speed, such as "pedal to the metal," which means to go very fast in a car. Whether you are riding a bike, driving, or playing music, a pedal is often a small part that gives you direct control.