Cog is a word with a few very different meanings. It can mean a toothOne projecting part on a gear that fits with another part to turn motion. on a gear wheel, a small but important worker in a larger system, or a woodworkingThe craft or activity of making or shaping things from wood. and metalworking verb in specialistA person with advanced knowledge or skill in a particular area. use.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /kɑɡ/
Easy pronunciation: KOG (approximate spelling).
Stress: One syllable; stress is inherent on the only syllable.
Noun meaning a tooth on the rim of a gear wheel.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Cog Meaning
one of the teeth on a gear wheel
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a tooth on the rim of a gear wheel
Example: The broken cog had to be replaced before the machine would run again.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- sprocket — Works as a close substitute in the mechanical sense, though sprocket is usually used for a toothed wheel rather than a single tooth.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Cog
Meaning 2
a small part of a larger system or organization
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a subordinate who performs an important but routine function
Example: He was just a small cog in a large machine.
Meaning 3
to join wood using cog joints
Part of speech: verb
Definition: join pieces of wood with cogs
Example: The carpenter cogs the boards together for extra strength.
Meaning 4
to roll steel ingots in a mill
Part of speech: verb
Definition: roll steel ingots
Example: The factory cogs the ingots before shaping them further.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Cog Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- sprocket
a subordinate who performs an important but routine function
- small part
- minor worker
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Do not confuse cog with cogs, the plural form, when the word is used to mean a machine part.
- The phrase small cog in a large machine is figurative; it does not refer to the gear-wheel meaning.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does cog mean in everyday English?
In everyday English, cog usually refers to a tooth on a gear wheel, or more figuratively to a person who plays a small but necessary role in a bigger system.
What is a synonym for cog?
For the gear part, sprocket is the closest listed synonym. For the figurative sense, there is no strong direct synonym in the supplied data.
Is cog a verb?
Yes. In specialized use, cog can mean to join wood with cogs or to roll steel ingots.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.