Link Centre Dictionary

wheel

UK/ˈwiːl/ US/ˈwɪi̯l/ common informal slang uk
noun (6) verb (4)

noun

1.

a simple machine consisting of a circular frame with spokes (or a solid disc) that can rotate on a shaft or axle (as in vehicles or other machines)

2.

a handwheel that is used for steering

Synonyms
3.
4.

game equipment consisting of a rotating wheel with slots that is used for gambling; players bet on which slot the roulette ball will stop in

Synonyms
5.

an instrument of torture that stretches or disjoints or mutilates victims

Synonyms
6.

a wheeled vehicle that has two wheels and is moved by foot pedals

Synonyms

verb

1.

change directions as if revolving on a pivot

  • “They wheeled their horses around and left”
Synonyms
2.
3.

move along on or as if on wheels or a wheeled vehicle

  • “The President”
Synonyms
4.

Origin

From Middle English whel, from Old English hwēol, from Proto-West Germanic *hwehwl, from Proto-Germanic *hwehwlą, *hweulō, from Proto-Indo-European *kʷekʷlóm, *kʷékʷlos, *kʷékʷléh₂, reduplication of *kʷel- (“to turn”) and a suffix (literally "(the thing that) turns and turns").

Phrases

  • 3rd wheel
  • 5th wheel
  • ab roller wheel
  • ab wheel
  • all-wheel drive
  • alloy wheel
  • Archibald wheel
  • artillery wheel
  • wheel around
  • wheel away

Related words

Word family

Broader terms

Narrower terms

Parts

Part of

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.