noun

1. a solid or partly solid disk, or a circular frame connected by spokes to a central hub, capable of turning on a central axis and used as to move vehicles or transmit power in machinery
2. anything like a wheel in shape, movement, action, etc., as a fireworks device that revolves while burning
3. a device or apparatus of which the principal element is a wheel or wheels; specif.,
   1. in the Middle Ages, an instrument of torture consisting of a circular frame on which the victim's limbs were painfully stretched
   2. a wheel with projecting handles for controlling the rudder of a ship
   3. paddle wheel, potter's wheel, spinning wheel, steering wheel, etc.
   4. any of various rotating disks used for gambling a roulette wheel
   5. ☆ Informal a bicycle
   6. ☆ Slang an automobile
4. the moving, propelling, or controlling forces or agencies the wheels of progress
5. a turning about; circular, rotating, or revolving movement; specif., a turning movement as of troops or ships in line, with one end of the line as the pivot; also, any pivoting movement like this, as of dancers
6. ☆ Slang an important, influential, or authoritative person
   also big wheel
7. Archaic the refrain of a song

Etymology: ME whele < OE hweol, earlier hweogol < IE *kwekwlo-, wheel (> Gr kyklos, a circle) < base *kwel-, to turn, be around, dwell > Gr telos, turning point, end, polos, axis, L colere, to till, dwell, Ger hals, neck

transitive verb

1. 1. to move or roll along (something equipped with wheels) to wheel a baby buggy
   2. to transport in a wheeled vehicle
2. to cause to turn, revolve, or rotate
3. to furnish with a wheel or wheels

intransitive verb

1. to turn on or as on an axis; pivot, rotate, revolve, etc.
2. to reverse one's course of action, movement, opinion, attitude, etc.: often with about
3. to turn in a swooping, circular motion: said of birds
4. to move or roll along on or as on wheels