wheel

1 of 2

noun

ˈ(h)wēl 

plural wheels

1

: a circular frame of hard material that may be solid, partly solid, or spoked and that is capable of turning on an axle

2

: a contrivance or apparatus having as its principal part a wheel: such as

a

: a chiefly medieval instrument of torture designed for mutilating a victim (as by stretching or disjointing)

b

: bicycle

c

: any of many revolving disks or drums used as gambling paraphernalia

d

: potter's wheel

e

: steering wheel

… drivers are expected to keep their hands on the wheel and remain attentive …

—Emily Dreibelbis

see also behind the wheel

3

a

: an imaginary turning wheel symbolizing the inconstancy of fortune

b

: a recurring course, development, or action : cycle

4

: something (such as a round, flat cheese) resembling a wheel in shape

5

a

: a curving or circular movement

b

: a rotation or turn usually about an axis or center

specifically : a turning movement of troops or ships in line in which the units preserve alignment and relative positions as they change direction

6

a

: a moving or essential part of something compared to a machine

the wheels of government

b

: a directing or controlling force

c

: a person of importance especially in an organization

a big wheel

7

: the refrain or burden of a song

8

a

: a circuit of theaters or places of entertainment

b

: a sports league

9

wheels plural, slang : a wheeled vehicle

especially : car, automobile

"Man, you got to get yourself some new wheels. When I get to college, I'm gonna get me a white Nissan Sentra …"

—Darcy Frey

10

wheels plural, slang : legs

wheelless

ˈ(h)wēl-ləs 

adjective

Illustration of wheel

• 1 hub
• 2 spoke
• 3 felly
• 4 tire

wheel

2 of 2

verb

wheeled; wheeling; wheels

intransitive verb

1

: to turn on or as if on an axis : revolve

2

: to change direction as if revolving on a pivot

the battalion would have wheeled to the flank

—Walter Bernstein

her mind will wheel around to the other extreme

—Liam O'Flaherty

wheeled to face her opponent

3

: to move or extend in a circle or curve

birds in wheeling flight

valleys where young cotton wheeled slowly in fanlike rows

—William Faulkner

4

: to travel on or as if on wheels or in a wheeled vehicle

transitive verb

1

: to cause to turn on or as if on an axis : rotate

2

: to convey or move on or as if on wheels or in a wheeled vehicle

wheeled the patient back to his room

wheeled the car into the driveway

wheel in the experts

3

: to cause to change direction as if revolving on a pivot

4

: to make or perform in a circle or curve

Phrases

wheel and deal

: to make deals or do business especially shrewdly or briskly

Synonyms

Noun

• gyration
• pirouette
• reel
• revolution
• roll
• rotation
• spin
• twirl
• whirl

Verb

• deflect
• divert
• redirect
• swing
• turn
• veer
• whip

Examples of wheel in a Sentence

Noun

The car's rear wheels started to spin on the icy road.

the wheels of a train

a suitcase with wheels on the bottom

a wheel of cheddar cheese

Verb

Doctors wheeled the patient into the operating room.

He wheeled his motorcycle into the garage.

Our waiter wheeled out a small dessert cart.

She wheeled around in her chair when I entered the room.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

To use it, just clip it onto the edge of the can, maneuver the extra large turn knob, and the wheel effortlessly glides along the can’s outer rim for a seamless puncturing, unlike so many can openers that can feel like pulling teeth or driving down a bumpy road). —Stephanie Osmanski, Southern Living, 13 Apr. 2024

An additional support stand will be added to keep both wheels off the floor to prevent wear spots on tires. —USA TODAY, 12 Apr. 2024

Last year, the wheels finally started turning again. —Brad Sanders, SPIN, 10 Apr. 2024

All sent to the front wheels thru a 10 speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters, with intelligent traction management. —Tony Leopardo, The Mercury News, 8 Apr. 2024

Kansas City’s preeminent party vendors are scurrying about a rooftop lounge that overlooks the city’s new ferris wheel, all in preparation for celebrating the birthday of their hometown hero. —Dianna Mazzone Singh, Allure, 2 Apr. 2024

Some car buyers will wait additional weeks for sleek new European wheels. —Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 31 Mar. 2024

The auction house also sold other Titanic props, including the ship’s helm wheel, Rose’s chiffon dress and a large brass engine order telegraph. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Mar. 2024

The suspension, while compliant and not too stiff, can loosen teeth if a wheel takes a pothole full steam ahead. —Robert Ross, Robb Report, 29 Mar. 2024

Verb

Several of the men appeared to be badly injured, with one appearing with a bandage over his ear, while another was wheeled into court in a wheelchair. —Nick Duffy, NBC News, 25 Mar. 2024

Gordon responds, wheeling the top half of his daughter off the stage. —Sabrina Weiss, Peoplemag, 20 Mar. 2024

The video shows several people wheeling large wooden beams near the Capitol during the 6 a.m. ET hour on Jan. 6. —Scott MacFarlane, CBS News, 18 Mar. 2024

In addition to the factory price cuts, dealers are starting to wheel and deal on electric car inventory that has sat around on the lot for a few months. —Bradley Brownell / Jalopnik, Quartz, 18 Mar. 2024

At the time, Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, who had been hospitalized for emergency abdominal surgery, made a surprise arrival, wheeled into the chamber in scrubs and socks to vote against it -- leaving the vote tied and leading to its failure. —Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 14 Feb. 2024

At the time, Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, who had been hospitalized for emergency abdominal surgery, made a surprise arrival, wheeled into the chamber in scrubs and socks to vote against it—leaving the vote tied, and failed. —TIME, 14 Feb. 2024

For many applications, the source has to be powerful enough to overcome extreme signal attenuation, efficient enough to avoid having to wheel around your own power generator, and small enough to be deployed in the field without having to be toted around on a flatbed truck. —IEEE Spectrum, 7 Mar. 2024

Photos and video show Castro on a scissor lift, wheeling his way toward the nearly 2,000-pound load that was suspended 16 feet into the air. —Maya Miller, Sacramento Bee, 22 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English hweogol, hwēol; akin to Old Norse hvēl wheel, Greek kyklos circle, wheel, Skt cakra, Latin colere to cultivate, inhabit, Sanskrit carati he moves, wanders

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Phrases Containing wheel

• at the wheel
• all-wheel
• a/the squeaky wheel gets the grease/oil
• behind the wheel
• front-wheel drive
• four-wheel
• mill wheel
• take the wheel
• wheel bug
• wheel clamp
• color wheel
• all-wheel drive
• balance wheel
• Ferris wheel
• daisy wheel
• buffing wheel
• planet wheel
• big wheel
• reinvent the wheel
• side-wheel
• fifth wheel
• Catherine wheel
• spinning wheel
• paddle wheel
• steering wheel
• potter's wheel
• four-wheel drive
• get behind the wheel
• wheel lock
• prayer wheel
• idler wheel
• cam wheel
• rear-wheel drive
• worm wheel
• wheel animal
• wheel and deal
• wheel-thrown
• wheel and axle
• tracing wheel

Kids Definition

wheel

1 of 2 noun

ˈhwē(ə)l 

ˈwē(ə)l

1

: a disk or circular frame turning on a central point

2

: a device (as a bicycle or potter's wheel) whose main part is a wheel

3

: something resembling a wheel (as in being round)

a wheel of cheese

4

: a curving or circular movement

5

: a moving or essential part of something compared to a machine

the wheels of government

6

: a person of importance

he was a big wheel in town

7

plural, slang : automobile

he borrowed my wheels for an upcoming date

wheeled

ˈhwē(ə)ld

ˈwē(ə)ld

adjective

wheel

2 of 2 verb

1

: to turn on or as if on a central point : revolve

2

: to change direction as if turning on a central point

wheeled about to face her opponent

3

: to move in a circle or curve

4

: to carry or move on wheels or in a vehicle

wheel a load into the barn