wheeling

[ hwee-ling, wee- ]

/ ˈʰwi lɪŋ, ˈwi- /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR wheeling ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the act of a person who moves, travels, conveys, etc., on or as on wheels, especially cycling.

a rotating or circular motion: the wheeling of birds.

the condition of a road for travel by wheeled vehicles: A state highway is usually good wheeling.

Nearby words

wheeler, william almon, wheeler-dealer, wheelhouse, wheelie, wheelie bin, wheeling, wheelman, wheelock, wheelock, eleazar, wheels, wheels in motion

Origin of wheeling

First recorded in 1475–85; wheel + -ing¹

Definition for wheeling (2 of 3)

Wheeling

[ hwee-ling, wee- ]

/ ˈʰwi lɪŋ, ˈwi- /

noun

a city in N West Virginia, on the Ohio River.

a town in NE Illinois.

Definition for wheeling (3 of 3)

wheel

[ hweel, weel ]

/ ʰwil, wil /

noun

a circular frame or disk arranged to revolve on an axis, as on or in vehicles or machinery.

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.

steering wheel.

Nautical.

a circular frame with an axle connecting to the rudder of a ship, for steering: He took the wheel during the storm.
a paddle wheel.
a propeller.

Informal. a bicycle.

a round object, decoration, etc.: a wheel of cheese; a design of red wheels and blue squares.

an old instrument of torture in the form of a circular frame on which the victim was stretched until disjointed.

a circular firework that revolves rapidly while burning; pinwheel.

a rotating instrument that Fortune is represented as turning in order to bring about changes or reverses in human affairs.

wheels,

moving, propelling, or animating agencies: the wheels of commerce; the wheels of thought.
Slang. a personal means of transportation, especially a car.

a cycle, recurring action, or steady progression: the wheel of days and nights.

a wheeling or circular movement: the intricate wheels of the folk dances.

(formerly) a movement of troops, ships, etc., drawn up in line, as if turning on a pivot.

Informal. someone active and influential, as in business, politics, etc.; an important person: a big wheel.

verb (used with object)

to cause to turn, rotate, or revolve, as on an axis.

to perform (a movement) in a circular or curving direction.

to move, roll, or convey on wheels, casters, etc.: The servants wheel the tables out.

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

verb (used without object)

to turn on or as on an axis or about a center; revolve, rotate, or pivot.

to move in a circular or curving course: pigeons wheeling above.

to turn so as to face in a different direction (often followed by about or around): He wheeled about and faced his opponent squarely.

to change one's opinion or procedure (often followed by about or around): He wheeled around and argued for the opposition.

to roll along on or as on wheels; travel along smoothly: The car wheeled along the highway.

British Military. to turn: Right wheel!

Origin of wheel

before 900; (noun) Middle English whel(e), Old English hwēol, hweohl; cognate with Dutch wiel, Old Norse hjōl; akin to Greek kýklos (see cycle); (v.) Middle English, derivative of the noun

Related formswheel·less, adjectiveun·der·wheel, nounun·wheel, verb (used with object)

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for wheeling

And it lets the seams show on all your wheeling and dealing.
Horoscopes July 3-9, 2011|Starsky + Cox|July 2, 2011|DAILY BEAST
They wanted the paintings for their home and were not interested in wheeling and dealing.
India's Hot Art Bazaar|Rebecca Byerly|January 26, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Finally, to a prolonged roar, came Phyllis wheeling Del in her chair.
My Marriage Was Annulled on an Otherwise Happy Night|Paul Festa|November 6, 2008|DAILY BEAST
Im sure Id rather march, and, if it came to that, die in fingering than in wheeling.
Adrienne Toner|Anne Douglas Sedgwick

On our arrival at Wheeling the streets and river banks were crowded with people, who flocked from every direction to see us.
Autobiography of Ma-ka-tai-me-she-kia-kiak, or Black Hawk|Black Hawk
"Now's our last chance," said The Cat, wheeling like a cockchafer on a pin.
The Day's Work, Volume 1|Rudyard Kipling
"We can find out only by returning," replied Roswell, wheeling about and leading the way back.
Klondike Nuggets|E. S. Ellis
With exultant yells, their left comes sweeping on, wheeling to envelop our right.
In The Ranks|R. E. McBride

British Dictionary definitions for wheeling

wheel

/ (wiːl) /

noun

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

anything like a wheel in shape or function

a device consisting of or resembling a wheel or having a wheel as its principal componenta steering wheel; a water 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

short for wheel of fortune, potter's wheel

the act of turning

a pivoting movement of troops, ships, etc

a type of firework coiled to make it rotate when let off

a set of short rhyming lines, usually four or five in number, forming the concluding part of a stanzaCompare bob 2 (def. 7)

the disc in which the ball is spun in roulette

US and Canadian an informal word for bicycle

archaic a refrain

informal, mainly US and Canadian a person of great influence (esp in the phrase big wheel)

at the wheel

driving or steering a vehicle or vessel
in charge

verb

(when intr sometimes foll by about or round) to turn or cause to turn on or as if on an axis

to move or cause to move on or as if on wheels; roll

(tr) to perform with or in a circular movement

(tr) to provide with a wheel or wheels

(intr often foll by about) to change one's mind or opinion

wheel and deal informal to be a free agent, esp to advance one's own interests

Word Origin for wheel

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

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

Idioms and Phrases with wheeling

wheel

In addition to the idioms beginning with wheel

wheel and deal
wheels in motion
wheels within wheels

also see:

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

wheeling

noun

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of wheeling

Definition for wheeling (2 of 3)

Wheeling

noun

Definition for wheeling (3 of 3)

wheel

noun

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

Origin of wheel

Examples from the Web for wheeling

British Dictionary definitions for wheeling

wheel

noun

verb

Word Origin for wheel

Idioms and Phrases with wheeling

wheel