spanner🔊

(Q154411) (Irish) A hand tool for adjusting nuts and bolts. +

(subclass of Q154411) (North America) Any of certain types of such a tool that have a pin or hook to engage the driven object.

(rare) One who, or that which, spans.

(graph theory) A (usually sparse) graph whose shortest path distances approximate those in a dense graph or other metric space.

(weaponry) A hand tool shaped like a small crank handle, for winding the spring of a wheel lock on a musket.

(obsolete) A device in early steam engines for moving the valves for the alternate admission and shutting off of the steam.

(Irish) A problem, dilemma or obstacle; something unexpected or troublesome (in the phrase ''spanner in the works'')

(derogatory) A stupid or unintelligent person; one prone to making mistakes, especially in language.

To use a spanner; to fix with a spanner