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
The combo is offset by a number of matte black trim on the window frame, vehicle-spanning bumper guards, and light alloy wheels. Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 21 Oct. 2024 The large wheels serve several purposes: Each rear wheels contain a 1,5000-Watt motor inside the wheel housing itself, and the large rubber tires give the Ranger X5 a smooth and very quiet ride while also being able to surmount small obstacle. William Roberson, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2024
Verb
Natasha Miller was in the operating room when Hoover was wheeled in for the organ retrieval surgery. Vanessa Etienne, People.com, 19 Oct. 2024 Long descriptive passages follow the narrator as he is wheeled down a hallway or cleaned by his nurse. Walt Hunter, The Atlantic, 3 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for wheel 

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 5 Nov. 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
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