noun
- toothed wheels that engage with a chain or track to transmit motion
Usage: mechanical engineering; plural of sprocket
Examples
- The bicycle chain slipped off the rear sprockets during the race.
- Tank treads are driven by large sprockets at the front and back.
- The mechanic replaced the worn sprockets on the motorcycle.
- Film projectors use sprockets to advance the film frame by frame.
- The conveyor belt system relies on sprockets to maintain proper tension.
- Old movie cameras had metal sprockets that engaged with perforated film.