pedal
n. countablen. a lever that you push with your foot to control a machine. You use these to make a bicycle move or to stop a car.
n. a foot-operated lever used for controlling a mechanism, such as a vehicle's brakes or the sustain on a piano.
He pushed the pedal to make the bike go faster.
The driver slammed on the brake pedal to avoid hitting the deer that ran into the road.
The pianist used the sustain pedal to blend the notes together, creating a rich and resonant sound that filled the entire concert hall.
Borrowed from French pédale, Latin pedāl(is). By surface analysis, ped- + -al.
Commonly paired with verbs like 'push', 'press', or 'step on'.
he pedaled the carhe pressed the pedalWhile you can 'pedal' a bicycle, you 'press' or 'use' the pedals in a car; 'pedal' as a verb specifically implies a circular foot motion.