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driving wheel

American  

noun

  1. Machinery. a main wheel that communicates motion to others.

  2. Also called driver. Railroads. one of the wheels of a locomotive that transmits the power of an engine or motor into tractive effort.


driving wheel British  

noun

  1. a wheel, esp a gear wheel, that causes other wheels to rotate

  2. any wheel of a vehicle that transforms torque into a tractive force

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of driving wheel

First recorded in 1830–40


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Anyone who knows me will tell you that I’m so clumsy, I should be nowhere near the driving wheel of a vehicle or the on-button of a power tool.

From The Guardian ● Sep. 16, 2019

As this happens, throw your weight to the high side of the machine to keep the driving wheel in good contact with the bottom of the bog.

From Time Magazine Archive

If there are 16 teeth, then on the surface of the driving wheel there will be 96 teeth.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 5 "Clervaux" to "Cockade" by Various

The shifting of the driving wheel upon the axle fastened the eccentric, so that it would not operate in backward motion.

From Illustrated Catalogue of Locomotives Baldwin Locomotive Works by Matthew Baird

The driving wheel is then revolved forward until the guide block returns, having passed to the end of its travel.

From Scientific American, Vol. XXXVII.?No. 2. [New Series.], July 14, 1877 A Weekly Journal Of Practical Information, Art, Science, Mechanics, Chemistry, And Manufactures by Various

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