Definition of 'rev'

Word Frequency

rev

(rev )

Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular present tense revs , present participle revving , past tense, past participle revved

1. verb

When the engine of a vehicle revs, or when you rev it, the engine speed is increased as the accelerator is pressed.

The engine started, revved and the car jerked away down the hill. [VERB]

The old bus was revving its engine, ready to start the journey. [VERB noun]

Rev up means the same as rev.

...drivers revving up their engines. [VERB PARTICLE noun]

...the sound of a car revving up. [VERB PARTICLE]

2. plural noun

If you talk about the revs of an engine, you are referring to its speed, which is measured in revolutions per minute.

The engine delivers instant acceleration whatever the revs.

Phrasal verbs:

rev up

Word Frequency

Rev.

language note: The spelling Rev is also used.

Rev. is a written abbreviation for Reverend.

[US]

...the Rev John Roberts.

regional note: in BRIT, use Revd

Word Frequency

rev in British

(rɛv ) informal

noun

revolution per minute

the engine was doing 5000 revs

verbWord forms: revs, revving or revved

2. (often foll by up)

to increase the speed of revolution of (an engine)

Word Frequency

rev. in British

abbreviation for

reverse(d)

revise(d)

revolution

Word Frequency

Rev. in British

abbreviation for

1. Bible

Revelation

Reverend

Word Frequency

Rev in American

1. Bible

Revelation

Reverend

Word Frequency

rev in American 1

(rɛv ; rev)

Informal

noun

a revolution, as of the crankshaft of an engine

verb transitiveWord forms: revved or ˈrevving

to increase the revolutions per minute of (an engine, motor, etc.)

to accelerate, intensify, etc.

verb intransitive

to undergo revving

Word Frequency

rev in American 2

revenue

reverse

review(ed)

revise(d)

revision

revolution

revolving

Example sentences containing 'rev'

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Ignore the current rev limit on engines. The Sun (2009)The problem is that in a normal car the revs rise as your speed increases. Times, Sunday Times (2014)The same colour is used for the rev counter. The Sun (2010)Put your foot down in a normal car and the revs climb in tandem with the speed. Times, Sunday Times (2009)The rev counter remains directly in front of the steering wheel. The Sun (2006)The rev counter has been replaced by a power meter which shows battery charge and driving efficiency. The Sun (2014)He picked up his cigarettes from the shelf below the dash and asked me to rev the engine. Times, Sunday Times (2006)You also get a nice feeling when driving around town and running on the battery rather than revving the engine. Times, Sunday Times (2008)It then slightly increases the flow of fuel, which thereby increases the revs. Times, Sunday Times (2010)When lorries were not clattering by, buses were revving their engines. Times, Sunday Times (2008)You're not interested in revs or speed. Times, Sunday Times (2013)It spins at around 300 revs per minute. Samways, B. & Byrne-Jones, T. Computers Basic Facts (1983)With no engine to rev, the journey was unusually quiet. Times, Sunday Times (2008)A rev counter and clock have also been added. The Sun (2008)I no longer feel guilty when my engines are revving low. Christianity Today (2000)I throw gears at the rev counter as my brain struggles to compute the blistering speed of the straight. The Sun (2009)Romantic leads in ballets chronically part; they run away to rev up the speed for launching themselves at each other. The Times Literary Supplement (2008)Then we chose a spin set at a low 400 revs per minute to try to stop the brew getting totally stewed. The Sun (2016)On an automatic, put it into first or second if you can and try to find a suitable balance of speed and revs. Times, Sunday Times (2007) Car wars rev up THE battle of the forecourts is about to heat up. Times, Sunday Times (2006)Each engine is assembled by a single man and then put through a bench test that includes it performing at maximum revs for 10 minutes. Times, Sunday Times (2014)He said: 'He was revving the car and headed straight towards me. The Sun (2010)The single round dial, offset to the right, displays speed and revs. Times, Sunday Times (2015)When spinning at around 300 revs per minute the disk is rigid and the head moves in a straight line between the centre and the edge. Samways, B. & Byrne-Jones, T. Computers Basic Facts (1983)The green and red LEDs light up gradually as the revs increase, showing the driver when to change up a gear. Times, Sunday Times (2012)

Trends of 'rev'

In Common Usage. rev is one of the 10000 most commonly used words in the Collins dictionary

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Translations for 'rev'

British English: rev VERB

When the engine of a vehicle revs, or when you rev it, the engine speed is increased as the accelerator is pressed.

The engine started, revved and the car jerked away down the hill.

American English: rev
Brazilian Portuguese: aumentar a velocidade de
Chinese: 加快旋转
European Spanish: acelerar
French: s'emballer
German: aufheulen lassen
Italian: imballare
Japanese: 回転する
Korean: 회전속도를 올리다
European Portuguese: aumentar a velocidade de
Spanish: acelerar

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Nearby words of 'rev'

Related Terms of 'rev'

Source

Definition of rev from the Collins English Dictionary

Verbal nouns

The verbal noun is the -ing form, i.e. the present participle of the verb, used as a noun. It can be used in all the places that a noun can be used, but still keeps some characteristics of the verb. ...