The part of a bicycle, motorcycle, piano or any other mechanic (or sometimes electronic) device you put your foot on. Pedals usually work as levers of some sort. On a bicycle, a pedal is connected to a crank that creates rotary motion which is transferred to the rear wheel by a chain. On a motorcycle, pedals are used for breaking, operating the clutch and shifting the gears. In an instrument like a piano, the pedals have different kinds of functions like sustain (prolongs the note) and soft (softens the tone and volume of the music). Pedals are also used as switches in machinery like lathes, sewing machines and potter's wheels.