conveyor belt
kuhn-VEY-er BELT
/kənˈveɪər bɛlt/
A continuous moving band of fabric, rubber, or metal used for moving objects from one place to another.
In a supermarket, it is the moving belt at the checkout that brings your items to the cashier.
The story behind the word. 'Convey' comes from the Latin 'con-' (together) and 'via' (way), meaning to bring along the way. The 'belt' part refers to the continuous loop. While used in factories since the late 1700s, they became a staple of supermarkets in the mid-20th century to speed up the checkout process.
Word relationships
- moving belt: A simpler, more descriptive term.
Commonly confused with
- assembly line: An 'assembly line' is a manufacturing process that often uses a conveyor belt, but the two are not the same.
Word family
- convey (verb): To transport or carry to a place.
- conveyance (noun): The action or process of transporting someone or something.
Collocations
- place on the conveyor belt
- conveyor belt system
- industrial conveyor belt
Example sentences
- "Please place your heavy items on the conveyor belt first." Shopping
- "The factory uses a conveyor belt to move parts along the assembly line." Industry
Memory hook
The belt 'conveys' (carries) your food to the cashier. Conveyor Belt: Carries your groceries to the end.
When not to use
Do not confuse with an 'escalator', which is for moving people between floors.
Fun facts
- The longest conveyor belt in the world is in Western Sahara; it is 61 miles long and carries phosphate from a mine to the coast.
- Supermarket conveyor belts are usually made of PVC or rubber for easy cleaning.
Explore more words
escalator, treadmill, self-checkout, squeegee, continuously, turnstile
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