WHEEL


Meaning of WHEEL in English

I. ˈhwēl, ˈwēl noun

Usage: often attributive

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

Date: before 12th century

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: 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

3.

a. : an imaginary turning wheel symbolizing the inconstancy of fortune

b. : a recurring course, development, or action : cycle

4. : something (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 wheel s 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. plural , slang : a wheeled vehicle ; especially : automobile

10. plural , slang : legs

• wheel·less ˈhwēl-ləs, ˈwēl- adjective

[

wheel 1: 1 hub, 2 spoke, 3 felly, 4 tire

]

II. verb

Date: 13th century

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 wheel ed to the flank — Walter Bernstein

her mind will wheel around to the other extreme — Liam O'Flaherty

wheel ed to face her opponent

3. : to move or extend in a circle or curve

birds in wheel ing flight

valleys where young cotton wheel ed 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

wheel ed the patient back to his room

wheel ed 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

- wheel and deal

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary.      Энциклопедический словарь английского языка Merriam Webster.