polia
1. A wheel with a grooved rim that a rope or cable runs through, used to lift or move heavy objects
The construction workers used a pulley system to lift the steel beams to the top of the building.
Os trabalhadores da construção usaram um sistema de polias para levantar as vigas de aço até o topo do edifício.
2. A mechanical device that changes the direction and point of application of a force
The pulley reduced the effort needed to raise the sail on the boat.
A polia reduziu o esforço necessário para levantar a vela no barco.
3. In automotive contexts, a wheel or sprocket that transmits power from one shaft to another
The engine pulley drives the alternator and water pump.
A polia do motor aciona o alternador e a bomba d'água.
In Brazil, 'polia' is the standard technical term used in mechanics, construction, and engineering. The word is universally understood and used in both formal and informal contexts. In Portugal, 'roldana' is the traditional term, though 'polia' has become more common with modern technical influence. Pulleys are fundamental to Brazilian construction and mechanical industries, particularly in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo where large construction projects are prevalent.
Related Idioms & Phrases
block and tackle (pulley system)
give someone a hard pull (figurative, not directly related but uses pulley concept)
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