Princeton's WordNet(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. wheel(noun)

   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. steering wheel, wheel(noun)

   a handwheel that is used for steering

3. wheel(noun)

   forces that provide energy and direction

   "the wheels of government began to turn"

4. wheel(noun)

   a circular helm to control the rudder of a vessel

5. roulette wheel, wheel(noun)

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

6. rack, wheel(noun)

   an instrument of torture that stretches or disjoints or mutilates victims

7. bicycle, bike, wheel, cycle(verb)

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

8. wheel, wheel around(verb)

   change directions as if revolving on a pivot

   "They wheeled their horses around and left"

9. wheel, wheel around(verb)

   wheel somebody or something

10. wheel, roll(verb)

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

    "The President's convoy rolled past the crowds"

11. bicycle, cycle, bike, pedal, wheel(verb)

    ride a bicycle

Wiktionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. wheel(Noun)

   A circular device capable of rotating on its axis, facilitating movement or transportation or performing labour in machines.

2. wheel(Noun)

   A wheel-like device used as an instrument of torture or punishment.

3. wheel(Noun)

   A steering wheel and its implied control of a vehicle.

4. wheel(Noun)

   The instrument attached to the rudder by which a vessel is steered.

5. wheel(Noun)

   A person with a great deal of power or influence; a big wheel.

6. wheel(Noun)

   The lowest straight in poker: ace, 2, 3, 4, 5.

7. wheel(Noun)

   wheel rim

8. wheel(Verb)

   To roll along as on wheels.

   Wheel that trolley over here, would you?

9. wheel(Verb)

   To travel around in large circles, particularly in the air.

   The vulture wheeled above us.

10. wheel(Verb)

    To transport something or someone using any wheeled mechanism, such as a wheelchair.

Origin: whele, from hweogol, hweol, from hwehwlan (cf. West Frisian tsjil, Dutch wiel, Danish hjul), from kʷekʷlóm (cf. Tocharian B kokale 'cart, wagon', Ancient Greek κύκλος 'cycle, wheel', Avestan , Sanskrit ), reduplication of *kʷel 'to turn' (cf. Welsh dymdymchwel 'to overturn, upset', Latin colere 'to till, cultivate', Tocharian AB 'to bear; bring', Ancient Greek (Aeolic) pélesthai 'to be in motion', коло 'wheel', Albanian sjell 'to turn around', Avestan 'it circulates', Sanskrit 'it moves, wanders').

Webster Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Wheel(noun)

   a circular frame turning about an axis; a rotating disk, whether solid, or a frame composed of an outer rim, spokes or radii, and a central hub or nave, in which is inserted the axle, -- used for supporting and conveying vehicles, in machinery, and for various purposes; as, the wheel of a wagon, of a locomotive, of a mill, of a watch, etc

2. Wheel(noun)

   any instrument having the form of, or chiefly consisting of, a wheel

3. Wheel(noun)

   a spinning wheel. See under Spinning

4. Wheel(noun)

   an instrument of torture formerly used

5. Wheel(noun)

   a circular frame having handles on the periphery, and an axle which is so connected with the tiller as to form a means of controlling the rudder for the purpose of steering

6. Wheel(noun)

   a potter's wheel. See under Potter

7. Wheel(noun)

   a firework which, while burning, is caused to revolve on an axis by the reaction of the escaping gases

8. Wheel(noun)

   the burden or refrain of a song

9. Wheel(noun)

   a bicycle or a tricycle; a velocipede

10. Wheel(noun)

    a rolling or revolving body; anything of a circular form; a disk; an orb

11. Wheel(noun)

    a turn revolution; rotation; compass

12. Wheel(verb)

    to convey on wheels, or in a wheeled vehicle; as, to wheel a load of hay or wood

13. Wheel(verb)

    to put into a rotatory motion; to cause to turn or revolve; to cause to gyrate; to make or perform in a circle

14. Wheel(verb)

    to turn on an axis, or as on an axis; to revolve; to more about; to rotate; to gyrate

15. Wheel(verb)

    to change direction, as if revolving upon an axis or pivot; to turn; as, the troops wheeled to the right

16. Wheel(verb)

    to go round in a circuit; to fetch a compass

17. Wheel(verb)

    to roll forward

Origin: [OE. wheel, hweol, AS. hwel, hweogul, hweowol; akin to D. wiel, Icel. hvl, Gr. ky`klos, Skr. cakra; cf. Icel. hjl, Dan. hiul, Sw. hjul. 218. Cf. Cycle, Cyclopedia.]

Freebase(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Wheel

   A wheel is a circular component that is intended to rotate on an axial bearing. The wheel is one of the main components of the wheel and axle which is one of the six simple machines. Wheels, in conjunction with axles, allow heavy objects to be moved easily facilitating movement or transportation while supporting a load, or performing labor in machines. Wheels are also used for other purposes, such as a ship's wheel, steering wheel, potter's wheel and flywheel. Common examples are found in transport applications. A wheel greatly reduces friction by facilitating motion by rolling together with the use of axles. In order for wheels to rotate, a moment needs to be applied to the wheel about its axis, either by way of gravity, or by the application of another external force or torque.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Wheel

   hwēl, n. a circular frame turning on an axle: an old instrument of torture: a steering-wheel: (fig.) the course of events, from the wheel, one of the attributes of Fortune, the emblem of mutability: (coll.) a bicycle or tricycle: circular motion: principle of life or motion: (Shak.) a refrain: (pl.) chariot: (slang) a dollar.—v.t. to cause to whirl: to convey on wheels: to turn.—v.i. to turn round or on an axis: to roll forward: to change direction: to move in a circle: to change about: (coll.) to ride a bicycle or tricycle.—ns. Wheel′-an′imal, -animal′cule, a rotifer; Wheel′-barrow, a barrow supported on one wheel and two handles, and driven forward by one man; Wheel′-boat, a boat having wheels, for use on water or on inclined planes; Wheel′-carr′iage, any kind of carriage moved on wheels; Wheel′-chair, a chair moving on wheels.—adj. Wheel′-cut, cut, or ground and polished, on a wheel—of glass.—n. Wheel′-cut′ter, a machine for cutting the teeth on watch and clock wheels.—p.adj. Wheeled, having wheels.—ns. Wheel′er, one who wheels: the horse nearest the wheels of a carriage: a maker of wheels; Wheel′-horse, one of the horses next the wheels in a team; Wheel′-house, a box or small house erected over the steering-wheel in ships: a paddle-box; Wheel′ing, the act of moving or conveying on wheels: a turning or circular movement of troops; Wheel′-lock, a lock for firing a gun by means of a small steel wheel; Wheel′man, a steersman: a cyclist; Wheel′-plough, a plough the depth of whose furrow is regulated by a wheel; Wheel′-race, the part of a race in which the water-wheel is fixed; Wheel′-tax, a tax on carriages; Wheel′-win′dow, a circular window with radiating tracery; Wheel′-work, a combination of wheels and their connection in machinery; Wheel′wright, a wright who makes wheels and wheel-carriages.—adj. Wheel′y, like a wheel.—Wheel and axle, one of the mechanical powers, in its primitive form a cylindrical axle, on which a wheel, concentric with the axle, is firmly fastened, the power being applied to the wheel, and the weight attached to the axis; Wheel of life (see Zoetrope); Wheels within wheels, a complication of circumstances.—Break a butterfly (fly, &c.) upon the wheel, to inflict a punishment out of all proportion to the offence: to employ great exertions for insignificant ends. [A.S. hwéol; Ice. hjól.]

The New Hacker's Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. wheel

   [from slang ‘big wheel’ for a powerful person] A person who has an active wheel bit. “We need to find a wheel to unwedge the hung tape drives.” (See wedged, sense 1.) The traditional name of security group zero in BSD (to which the major system-internal users like root belong) is ‘wheel’. Some vendors have expanded on this usage, modifying Unix so that only members of group ‘wheel’ can go root.

Suggested Resources(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. wheel

   The wheel symbol -- In this Symbols.com article you will learn about the meaning of the wheel symbol and its characteristic.

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'wheel' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #3830

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'wheel' in Written Corpus Frequency: #3121

3. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'wheel' in Nouns Frequency: #1082

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of wheel in Chaldean Numerology is: 6

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of wheel in Pythagorean Numerology is: 8

Sample Sentences & Example Usage

1. Aesop:

   Put your shoulder to the wheel.

2. Ateev Mehrotra:

   It's a hamster wheel environment.

3. Art Moulds:

   It's like a roulette wheel, who knows.

4. John Wayne:

   I'll have you spread-eagled on a wagon wheel

5. Shehu Sani:

   The will of the people is the wheel of a nation.

Images & Illustrations of wheel