flywheel

[flahy-hweel, -weel]

noun

Machinery.

1. a heavy disk or wheel rotating on a shaft so that its momentum gives almost uniform rotational speed to the shaft and to all connected machinery.

flywheel

/ ˈflaɪˌwiːl /

noun

1. a heavy wheel that stores kinetic energy and smooths the operation of a reciprocating engine by maintaining a constant speed of rotation over the whole cycle

Word History and Origins

Origin of flywheel¹

First recorded in 1775–85; fly ² + wheel

Example Sentences

“Once a 500-truck order comes in, the flywheel really gets going.”

From Los Angeles Times

Images on social media purport to show one of the chairlift's flywheels off it's spoke.

From BBC

It builds a bit of a flywheel momentum for these guys.

From BBC

“Until you get that back, it’s going to be hard to restart a positive dynamic flywheel downtown.”

From Los Angeles Times

The government’s argument focuses on the power of data and the notion that the search business is an accelerating flywheel, which becomes an insurmountable barrier to rivals.

From New York Times