/ Dictionary / Index R ratchet effect: Meaning and Definition of Find definitions for: ratch'et effect" Pronunciation: [key] intermittent growth, increase, expansion, or the like: the ratchet effect of defense expenditures. Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease. ratchet ratchet jack Related Content Daily Word Quiz: placid Analogy of the Day: Today’s Analogy Spelling Bee: Today’s Spelling Bee Frequently Misspelled Words Frequently Mispronounced Words Easily Confused Words Writing & Language