Wheel Definition

wēl, hwēl

wheeled, wheeling, wheels

noun

wheels

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.

Webster's New World

Anything like a wheel in shape, movement, action, etc., as a fireworks device that revolves while burning.

Webster's New World

A device or apparatus of which the principal element is a wheel or wheels.

Webster's New World

Forces that provide energy, movement, or direction.

The wheels of commerce.

American Heritage

The moving, propelling, or controlling forces or agencies.

The wheels of progress.

Webster's New World

Synonyms:

verb

wheeled, wheeling, wheels

To move or roll along (something equipped with wheels)

To wheel a baby buggy.

Webster's New World

To transport in a wheeled vehicle.

Webster's New World

To turn on or as on an axis; pivot, rotate, revolve, etc.

Webster's New World

To cause to turn, revolve, or rotate.

Webster's New World

To furnish with a wheel or wheels.

Webster's New World

Synonyms:

idiom

Operating the steering mechanism of a vehicle; driving.
Directing or controlling; in charge.

American Heritage

wheel and deal

To engage in the advancement of one's own interests, especially in a canny, aggressive, or unscrupulous way.

American Heritage

at the wheel

steering a ship, motor vehicle, etc.
in charge; directing activities

Webster's New World

spin one's wheels

to engage in fruitless activity

Webster's New World

wheel and deal

to behave in an aggressive, flamboyant way, as in arranging business or political deals

Webster's New World

Other Word Forms of Wheel

Noun

Singular:

wheel

Plural:

wheels

Idioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Wheel

Origin of Wheel

From Middle English whele, from Old English hwÄ“oÄ¡ol, hwÄ“ol, from Proto-Germanic *hwehwlÄ… (compare West Frisian tsjil, Dutch wiel, Danish hjul), from Proto-Indo-European *kÊ·ekÊ·lóm, *kʷékÊ·los (cf. Tocharian B kokale (“cart, wagon"), Ancient Greek κύκλος (kuklos, “cycle, wheel"), Avestan [script?] (čaxrō)[script?], Sanskrit चक्र (cakrá)), reduplication of *kÊ·el- (“to turn") (compare Welsh dymchwel (“to overturn, upset"), Latin colere (“to till, cultivate"), Tocharian A and B käl (“to bear; bring"), Ancient Greek (Aeolic) πέλεσθαι (pélesthai, “to be in motion"), Old Church Slavonic коло (kolo, “wheel"), Albanian sjell (“to bring, carry, turn around"), Avestan [script?] (čaraiti, “it circulates")[script?], Sanskrit चरति (cárati, “it moves, wanders")).

From Wiktionary
Middle English from Old English hwēol kwel-¹ in Indo-European roots

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition