wheel
noun
- 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
- anything like a wheel in shape, movement, action, etc., as a fireworks device that revolves while burning
- a device or apparatus of which the principal element is a wheel or wheels; specif.,
- in the Middle Ages, an instrument of torture consisting of a circular frame on which the victim's limbs were painfully stretched
- a wheel with projecting handles for controlling the rudder of a ship
- paddle wheel, potter's wheel, spinning wheel, steering wheel, etc.
- any of various rotating disks used for gambling: a roulette wheel
- ☆ Informal a bicycle
- ☆ Slang an automobile
- the moving, propelling, or controlling forces or agencies: the wheels of progress
- 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
- ☆ Slang an important, influential, or authoritative person
- Archaic the refrain of a song
transitive verb
- to move or roll along (something equipped with wheels): to wheel a baby buggy
- to transport in a wheeled vehicle
- to cause to turn, revolve, or rotate
- to furnish with a wheel or wheels
intransitive verb
- to turn on or as on an axis; pivot, rotate, revolve, etc.
- to reverse one's course of action, movement, opinion, attitude, etc.: often with about
- to turn in a swooping, circular motion: said of birds
- to move or roll along on or as on wheels
See wheel in American Heritage Dictionary 4
(hwēl, wēl)
noun- A solid disk or a rigid circular ring connected by spokes to a hub, designed to turn around an axle passed through the center.
- Something resembling such a disk or ring in appearance or movement or having a wheel as its principal part or characteristic, as:
a. The steering device on a vehicle.
b. A potter's wheel.
c. A water wheel.
d. A spinning wheel.
e. Games A device used in roulette and other games of chance.
f. A firework that rotates while burning.
g. Informal A bicycle.
h. An instrument to which a victim was bound for torture during the Middle Ages.
- wheels Forces that provide energy, movement, or direction: the wheels of commerce.
- The act or process of turning; revolution or rotation.
- A military maneuver executed in order to change the direction of movement of a formation, as of troops or ships, in which the formation is maintained while the outer unit describes an arc and the inner or center unit remains stationary as a pivot.
- wheels Slang A motor vehicle or access thereto: Do you have wheels tonight?
- Slang A person with a great deal of power or influence: a wheel in state government.
verb wheeled wheeled,
wheel·ing,
wheels verb, transitive- To roll, move, or transport on wheels or a wheel.
- To cause to turn around or as if around a central axis; revolve or rotate.
- To provide with wheels or a wheel.
verb, intransitive- To turn around or as if around a central axis; revolve or rotate.
- To roll or move on or as if on wheels or a wheel.
- To fly in a curving or circular course: A flock of gulls wheeled just above the dock.
- To turn or whirl around in place; pivot: “The boy wheeled and the fried eggs leaped from his tray” (Ivan Gold).
- To reverse one's opinion or practice: Don't be surprised if the boss wheels about on that idea.
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