Lever vs. Pull — What's the Difference?

A simple machine that magnifies an applied force.

To exert force on something to draw it towards oneself.

A tool to increase force application efficiency.

To use force to move an object closer.

A device that provides a mechanical advantage.

To draw or tug something with force.

A lever ( or US: ) is a simple machine consisting of a beam or rigid rod pivoted at a fixed hinge, or fulcrum. A lever is a rigid body capable of rotating on a point on itself.

To apply force to (something) so as to cause or tend to cause motion toward the source of the force

A rigid bar resting on a pivot, used to move a heavy or firmly fixed load with one end when pressure is applied to the other

To remove from a fixed position; extract

Lift or move with a lever

To tug at; jerk or tweak

A simple machine consisting of a rigid bar pivoted on a fixed point and used to transmit force, as in raising or moving a weight at one end by pushing down on the other.

To rip or tear; rend

A projecting handle used to adjust or operate a mechanism.

To stretch (taffy, for example) repeatedly.

A means of accomplishing; a tool

To strain (a muscle, for example) injuriously.

To move or lift with a lever

(Informal) To attract; draw

To move (oneself, for example) in a manner resembling the use of a lever

(Slang) To draw out (a weapon) in readiness for use

To fund at least in part with borrowed money; leverage.

(Informal) To remove

(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.

(Sports) To hit (a ball) so that it moves in the direction away from the dominant hand of the player propelling it, as to the left of a right-handed player.

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.

To operate (an oar) in rowing.

A small such piece to trigger or control a mechanical device (like a button).

To transport or propel by rowing.

(mechanics) A bar, as a capstan bar, applied to a rotatory piece to turn it.

To be rowed by

(mechanics) An arm on a rock shaft, to give motion to the shaft or to obtain motion from it.

To rein in (a horse) to keep it from winning a race.

A crowbar.

(Printing) To produce (a print or an impression) from type.

(rare) A levee.

To exert force in moving something toward the source of the force

(transitive) To move with a lever.

To move in a certain direction or toward a certain goal

To use, operate or move (something) like a lever (physically).

To gain a position closer to an objective

To use (something) like a lever (in an abstract sense).

To drink or inhale deeply

To increase the share of debt in the capitalization of a business.

(Nautical) To row a boat.

(obsolete) Rather.

(Informal) To express or feel great sympathy or empathy

More agreeable; more pleasing.

The act or process of pulling

Rather.

Force exerted in pulling or required to overcome resistance in pulling

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. Specif., 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.

A sustained effort

A bar, as a capstan bar, applied to a rotatory piece to turn it.

Something, such as a knob on a drawer, that is used for pulling.

A rigid bar pivoted about a fulcrum

A deep inhalation or draft, as on a cigarette or of a beverage.

A simple machine that gives a mechanical advantage when given a fulcrum

(Slang) A means of gaining special advantage; influence

A flat metal tumbler in a lever lock

(Informal) The ability to draw or attract; appeal

To move or force, especially in an effort to get something open;

To apply a force to (an object) so that it comes toward the person or thing applying the force.

A rigid bar that pivots around a fulcrum to move a load.

To gather with the hand, or by drawing toward oneself; to pluck.

An apparatus used to transmit and modify force.

(transitive) To attract or net; to pull in.

(transitive) To remove (something), especially from public circulation or availability.

(transitive) To retrieve or generate for use.

(construction) To obtain (a permit) from a regulatory authority.

To do or perform.

(with 'a' and the name of a person, place, event, etc.) To copy or emulate the actions or behaviour that is associated with the person or thing mentioned.

To toss a frisbee with the intention of launching the disc across the length of a field.

(intransitive) To row.

To achieve by rowing on a rowing machine.

To draw apart; to tear; to rend.

(transitive) To strain (a muscle, tendon, ligament, etc.).

To draw (a hostile non-player character) into combat, or toward or away from some location or target.

(UK) To score a certain number of points in a sport.

(horse-racing) To hold back, and so prevent from winning.

To take or make (a proof or impression); so called because hand presses were worked by pulling a lever.

To strike the ball in a particular manner. (See noun sense.)

(UK) To draw beer from a pump, keg, or other source.

(intransitive) To take a swig or mouthful of drink.

To pull out from a yard or station; to leave.

To pluck or pick (flowers, fruit etc.).

(sports) Command used by a target shooter to request that the target be released/launched.

An act of pulling applying force toward oneself.

An attractive force which causes motion towards the source.

An advantage over somebody; a means of influencing.

Any device meant to be pulled, as a lever, knob, handle, or rope.

Something in one's favour in a comparison or a contest.

Or attraction (e.g. of a movie star).

The situation where a client sends out a request for data from a server, as in server pull, pull technology

A journey made by rowing.

(dated) A contest; a struggle.

Loss or violence suffered.

(colloquial) The act of drinking; a mouthful or swig of a drink.

(cricket) A type of stroke by which a leg ball is sent to the off side, or an off ball to the on side; a pull shot.

(golf) A mishit shot which travels in a straight line and (for a right-handed player) left of the intended path.

A single impression from a handpress.

(printing) A proof sheet.

To draw, or attempt to draw, toward one; to draw forcibly.

To draw apart; to tear; to rend.

To gather with the hand, or by drawing toward one; to pluck; as, to pull fruit; to pull flax; to pull a finch.

To move or operate by the motion of drawing towards one; as, to pull a bell; to pull an oar.

To hold back, and so prevent from winning; as, the favorite was pulled.

To take or make, as a proof or impression; - hand presses being worked by pulling a lever.

To exert one's self in an act or motion of drawing or hauling; to tug; as, to pull at a rope.

The act of pulling or drawing with force; an effort to move something by drawing toward one.

A contest; a struggle; as, a wrestling pull.

A pluck; loss or violence suffered.

A knob, handle, or lever, etc., by which anything is pulled; as, a drawer pull; a bell pull.

The act of rowing; as, a pull on the river.

The act of drinking; as, to take a pull at the beer, or the mug.

Something in one's favor in a comparison or a contest; an advantage; means of influencing; as, in weights the favorite had the pull.

A kind of stroke by which a leg ball is sent to the off side, or an off ball to the side.

The act of pulling; applying force to move something toward or with you;

The force used in pulling;

Special advantage or influence;

A device used for pulling something;

A sharp strain on muscles or ligaments;

A slow inhalation (as of tobacco smoke);

A sustained effort;

Cause to move along the ground by pulling;

Direct toward itself or oneself by means of some psychological power or physical attributes;

Move into a certain direction;

Apply force so as to cause motion towards the source of the motion;

Perform an act, usually with a negative connotation;

Bring, take, or pull out of a container or from under a cover;

Steer into a certain direction;

Strain abnormally;

Cause to move in a certain direction by exerting a force upon, either physically or in an abstract sense;

Operate when rowing a boat;

Rein in to keep from winning a race;

Tear or be torn violently;

Hit in the direction that the player is facing when carrying through the swing;

Strip of feathers;

Draw or pull out, usually with some force or effort; also used in an abstract sense;

Take sides with; align oneself with; show strong sympathy for;

Take away;

The action of dragging or drawing something.

The act of applying force to cause movement towards the source.

Pull refers to the action of exerting force to draw something towards oneself.

No, pulling is a basic action, not classified as a simple machine.

Yes, a lever can be operated by pushing or pulling to move a load.

Examples include seesaws, crowbars, and scissors.

Examples include pulling a rope, opening a door, and drawing a cart.

Yes, levers provide a mechanical advantage by magnifying applied force.

Levers are classified into first, second, and third classes based on the positions of the fulcrum, load, and effort.

A lever is a simple machine consisting of a rigid bar that pivots around a fulcrum to move a load with applied force.

No, pulling itself does not provide a mechanical advantage.

Yes, many household items, like scissors and bottle openers, use levers.

Yes, pulling is essential in many daily tasks, such as opening doors and moving objects.

Yes, pulling is a mechanical action but not a mechanical device.

Yes, levers require a fulcrum to pivot and function effectively.

Pulling typically does not change the direction of force; it draws objects towards the source of the force.

Yes, a lever can change the direction of the applied force.