wheel

1 of 2

noun

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

Illustration of wheel

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 flankWalter Bernstein
her mind will wheel around to the other extremeLiam 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 rowsWilliam 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

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
As images obtained by the outlet show, the wheel broke one vehicle's rear windshield, damaged a Tesla, bent part of a fence and eventually landed in a nearby lot. Brenton Blanchet, Peoplemag, 8 Mar. 2024 Triers allow cheesemakers to sample their work without cutting open the entire wheel. Kelly Meyerhofer, Journal Sentinel, 7 Mar. 2024 Chris Buescher slammed into the wall on Turn 1, and his right wheel popped off. Shane Connuck, Charlotte Observer, 3 Mar. 2024 Matters were complicated by the municipal ownership, and by extension, the slow-turning wheels of government bureaucracy. Erin Couch, The Enquirer, 3 Mar. 2024 If this happens, the SUV’s front wheel could fall outward, resulting in a loss of control, according to documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Peter Valdes-Dapena, CNN, 28 Feb. 2024 Enjoy the white sandy beaches, ride the ferris wheel, see a concert, shop, and dine at The Wharf, and enjoy fresh seafood with a kid-friendly atmosphere at The Gulf. Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2024 The fantasy that race doesn’t matter, embedded into law via Proposition 209, is one reason why California has been spinning its wheels on homelessness. Erika D. Smith, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2024 Quebec insurers often require the Tag system for high-risk cars in the province, which for decades has grappled with auto thefts largely because many thieves favor Montreal’s port for getting their hot wheels quickly out of the country. Vjosa Isai, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2024
Verb
Police believe Stengel was killed in the kitchen area of the restaurant, wrapped in a garbage bag, placed in a garbage can, and then wheeled outside to the dumpster area. Adrienne Davis, Journal Sentinel, 16 Feb. 2024 Sherman swiveled around, turning his back to the camera, and wheeled himself away. Elliot Ackerman, WIRED, 12 Feb. 2024 All Democrats were in attendance after Rep. Al Green, a Texas Democrat, was wheeled into the vote wearing hospital scrubs after emergency surgery. Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 8 Feb. 2024 Park employees can wheel the telescope out of the building for viewings. Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 31 Jan. 2024 During a recent tour of the land, which sits low in San Geronimo Valley, less than an hour’s drive north of San Francisco, Mr. Rodriguez motioned to rolling hills that serve as habitat for wildlife, including hawks that were wheeling overhead. Cara Buckley, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2024 Unlike old-fashioned trunks, it can be wheeled around. Theresa Holland, Travel + Leisure, 2 Feb. 2024 But his warehouse is wheeling out wings, the perfect accompaniment for winning. Neal Rubin, Detroit Free Press, 24 Jan. 2024 After the Super Bowl, as players celebrate in the blizzard of confetti, a massive stage is wheeled onto the field for the trophy presentation. Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'wheel.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of wheel was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near wheel

Cite this Entry

“Wheel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wheel. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

wheel

1 of 2 noun
ˈhwē(ə)l How to pronounce wheel (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on wheel

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!