What does reamer mean?
A reamer is a tool used to enlarge, shape, or finish a hole with controlled accuracy. In metalworking and machining, a reamer is a cutting tool with multiple cutting edges that rotates inside an existing hole, removing a small amount of material to bring the hole to a specified diameter and tolerance. It is also sometimes used for a rasp-like hand tool that enlarges or smooths holes, particularly in wood or metal. The word can additionally refer to a device for squeezing juice from citrus fruit. Its main significance is precision: a reamer is generally used after drilling when the hole must be sized accurately for another component to fit properly. In everyday culinary usage, the sense is less specialized and often interchangeable with citrus juicer.
nounA rotating cutting tool used in machining to enlarge, shape, or finish a hole to a required size and tolerance. The term can also refer to a rasp-like hand tool for enlarging holes, and informally to a device for extracting juice from citrus fruit.
- A hand or machine tool used to enlarge, shape, or finish a hole.
- A rasp-like tool used especially for enlarging or smoothing a hole in wood or metal.
- A device for extracting juice from citrus fruit.
"The mechanic used a reamer to bring the bearing bore to the precise diameter required for the fit."
"The machinist checked the bore with a gauge before using the reamer."
"She pressed the orange against the reamer until the juice ran into the glass."
The plural is used when referring to multiple tools or devices.
"The workshop ordered several reamers in different diameters."
A reamer’s job is precise finishing: it removes a very small amount of material to make a hole fit exactly as intended.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does reamer come from?
The word reamer comes from the English verb ream, meaning to make wider or enlarge an opening, and ultimately relates to older forms meaning to widen or enlarge. Its specialized mechanical sense developed as the name of a tool that enlarges and finishes holes. The culinary sense is a later extension to a tool used to ream or extract the juice of citrus fruit.
Related word forms
How reamer is actually used
In technical machining, the word normally denotes a precision cutting tool. In culinary contexts, “reamer” may be used for a ridged citrus-juicing tool, although “citrus juicer” is often clearer.
Easily confused with reamer
A reamer is the tool used to enlarge or finish a hole, whereas a ream is a quantity of paper, traditionally twenty-four sheets.
A reamer is generally designed to cut and size a hole precisely, while a rasp is primarily a coarse tool for shaping or smoothing materials.