wheel

[ weel, hweel ]

noun

1. a circular frame or disk arranged to revolve on an axis, as on or in vehicles or machinery.
2. any machine, apparatus, instrument, etc., shaped like this or having a circular frame, disk, or revolving drum as an essential feature:

   a potter's wheel; roulette wheel; spinning wheel.

3. steering wheel.
4. Nautical.
   1. a circular frame with an axle connecting to the rudder of a ship, for steering:

      He took the wheel during the storm.

   2. a paddle wheel.
   3. a propeller.
5. Informal. a bicycle.
6. a round object, decoration, etc.:

   a wheel of cheese; a design of red wheels and blue squares.

7. an old instrument of torture in the form of a circular frame on which the victim was stretched until disjointed.
8. a circular firework that revolves rapidly while burning; pinwheel.
9. a rotating instrument that Fortune is represented as turning in order to bring about changes or reverses in human affairs.
10. wheels,
    1. moving, propelling, or animating agencies:

       the wheels of commerce; the wheels of thought.

    2. Slang. a personal means of transportation, especially a car.
11. a cycle, recurring action, or steady progression:

    the wheel of days and nights.

12. a wheeling or circular movement:

    the intricate wheels of the folk dances.

13. (formerly) a movement of troops, ships, etc., drawn up in line, as if turning on a pivot.
14. Informal. someone active and influential, as in business, politics, etc.; an important person:

    a big wheel.

verb (used with object)

1. to cause to turn, rotate, or revolve, as on an axis.
2. to perform (a movement) in a circular or curving direction.
3. to move, roll, or convey on wheels, casters, etc.:

   The servants wheel the tables out.

4. to provide (a vehicle, machine, etc.) with wheels.

verb (used without object)

1. to turn on or as on an axis or about a center; revolve, rotate, or pivot.
2. to move in a circular or curving course:

   pigeons wheeling above.

3. to turn so as to face in a different direction (often followed by about or around ):

   He wheeled about and faced his opponent squarely.

4. to change one's opinion or procedure (often followed by about or around ):

   He wheeled around and argued for the opposition.

5. to roll along on or as on wheels; travel along smoothly:

   The car wheeled along the highway.

6. British Military. to turn:

   Right wheel!

wheel

/ wiːl /

noun

1. a solid disc, or a circular rim joined to a hub by radial or tangential spokes, that is mounted on a shaft about which it can turn, as in vehicles and machines
2. anything like a wheel in shape or function
3. a device consisting of or resembling a wheel or having a wheel as its principal component

   a steering wheel

   a water wheel

4. the wheel
   the wheel a medieval torture consisting of a wheel to which the victim was tied and then had his limbs struck and broken by an iron bar
5. See potter's wheel, wheel of fortune
   short for wheel of fortune potter's wheel
6. the act of turning
7. a pivoting movement of troops, ships, etc
8. a type of firework coiled to make it rotate when let off
9. See bob
   a set of short rhyming lines, usually four or five in number, forming the concluding part of a stanza Compare bob 2
10. the disc in which the ball is spun in roulette
11. See bicycle
    an informal word for bicycle
12. archaic.
    a refrain
13. informal.
    a person of great influence (esp in the phrase big wheel )
14. at the wheel
    at the wheel
    1. driving or steering a vehicle or vessel
    2. in charge

verb

1. whenintr sometimes foll by about or round to turn or cause to turn on or as if on an axis
2. to move or cause to move on or as if on wheels; roll
3. tr to perform with or in a circular movement
4. tr to provide with a wheel or wheels
5. introften foll byabout to change one's mind or opinion
6. wheel and deal informal.
   wheel and deal to be a free agent, esp to advance one's own interests

Derived Forms

• ˈwheel-less, adjective

Other Words From

• wheel·less adjective
• un·der·wheel noun
• un·wheel verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of wheel¹

First recorded before 900; (for the noun) Middle English whel(e), Old English hwēol, hweohl; cognate with Dutch wiel, Old Norse hjōl; akin to Greek kýklos, Persian charkh, Sanskrit cakra-; verb derivative of the noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of wheel¹

Old English hweol, hweowol; related to Old Norse hvēl, Greek kuklos, Middle Low German wēl, Dutch wiel

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. at the wheel,
   1. at the helm of a ship, the steering wheel of a motor vehicle, etc.
   2. in command or control:

      Her ambition is to be at the wheel of a large corporation by the age of 40.

2. spin one's wheels, Informal. to expend or waste effort to no avail:

   He spun his wheels on that project for two years.

3. wheel and deal, Informal. to operate dynamically for one's own profit or benefit.
4. wheels within wheels, an involved interaction of motives or agencies operating to produce the final result:

   Government agencies are a study of wheels within wheels.

5. hell on wheels. hell ( def 19 ).

More idioms and phrases containing wheel

• asleep at the switch (wheel)
• at the wheel
• big cheese (wheel)
• cog in the wheel
• fifth wheel
• grease (oil) the wheels
• hell on wheels
• put one's shoulder to the wheel
• reinvent the wheel
• set (wheels) in motion
• spin one's wheels
• squeaky wheel gets the grease

Example Sentences

An ATV’s power goes to zero as soon as the wheels lose traction, so naturally, you want more grip.

From Popular-Science

But, we aren’t at a point where marketers can take our hands entirely off the steering wheel.

From Search Engine Land

The wheels and legs do stick out a bit beyond the actual grill when it’s folded.

From Outside Online

In hub drive systems, the motor is housed in one of the wheels.

From Outside Online

It would have to put an impossibly large number of customers behind the wheel.

From Fortune

They were racing toward the corner of Tompkins and Myrtle avenues with Johnson at the wheel when another call came over the radio.

From The Daily Beast

“They think Putin is the only evil in Russia and dream about getting rid of him,” he said, tightening his grip on the wheel.

From The Daily Beast

Maybe the wheel will turn again, and heterosexuality will come to seem edgy.

From The Daily Beast

It was only a matter of time that the wheel turned its full revolution.

From The Daily Beast

The “little joker” was a small tin wheel with a wire attached to it, which fit inside the combination of any bank safe.

From The Daily Beast

Never again would he sit behind that wheel rejoicing in the insolence of speed.

From Project Gutenberg

He deposited it on the vacant seat, clambered up behind the wheel, and started.

From Project Gutenberg

The non-elastic character of water made it unsuitable for a machine requiring a fly-wheel.

From Project Gutenberg

To quote Mrs. Kaye, 'A Liberal peer is as useful as a fifth wheel to a coach, and as ornamental as whitewash.'

From Project Gutenberg

I think 6½ feet diameter for the fly, and 9½ inches diameter for the small wheel, will give speed enough to the drum.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• disk
• drum
• roller