Dictionary Home » Dictionary Definitions » wheel

wheel

Listen See in Thesaurus See in a sentence

The definition of a wheel is a round frame that turns from a central point.

(noun)

An example of a wheel is what you hold on to while steering your car.
An example of a wheel is something that is used for moving vehicles, carts and platforms forward.

Wheel is defined as to turn, carry or move something along in a vehicle with wheels.

(verb)

An example of wheel is pushing a stroller.

See wheel in Webster's New World College Dictionary

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.,
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
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
also big wheel
Archaic the refrain of a song

Origin: 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. to move or roll along (something equipped with wheels): to wheel a baby buggy
2. 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

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, 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.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English

Origin: , from Old English hwēol; see k^wel-¹ in Indo-European roots

Learn more about wheel

wheel synonyms

wheel phrase meanings

wheel in a sentence

wheel quotes

link/cite print suggestion box